Daniel Nunes Negrine case: Alleged Brazil drug smuggler, on the run for 10 years, found by chance in Perth

A routine traffic stop by WA Police has led to the recapture of an alleged Brazilian drug importer, who has been on the run from Queensland for ten years. Daniel Nunes Negrine, 40, was in 2012 suspected of being linked to an international drug cartel — after $600,000 in cash was allegedly found at his Coolangatta home. After being charged with money laundering, and importing a quantity of border-controlled drugs, Mr Negrine was granted bail. From there, he disappeared — until earlier this month, when WA Police pulled over a car. Investigations pulled up Mr Negrine’s details, which revealed he was an unlawful non-citizen. That booked him a brief stay at the Yongah Hill Detention Centre. But further probes unearthed the warrant which had been sitting on the Queensland court files for a decade – prompting an appearance in Perth Magistrates Court this morning on application to extradite. That application was granted by magistrate Michelle Harries, who was told that Mr Negrine would be kept in Perth overnight, picked up Queensland AFP detectives tomorrow and appear in a court in Brisbane on Thursday. There, he will face the allegation that he was part of a syndicate that used mules to bring drugs from Brazil into the Gold Coast. When originally arrested Queensland Police alleged Negrine and a co-accused could be linked to a man caught at Sydney International Airport and another at the Gold Coast International Airport. These two mules allegedly had 12 kilograms of cocaine hidden in suitcase linings and windsurfer handles. Another man — who was allegedly carrying 2kg of cocaine — was arrested in New Zealand as he was about to board a flight to Australia. In Mr Negrine’s absence, a Queensland court ordered the $600,000 allegedly found in his house to be turned over to authorities. During those proceedings, Queensland District Court was told that some of that cash was found in the lining of a couch, while most was in the boots of two cars parked outside an apartment. No more details of how long Mr Negrine had been in WA, or what he had been doing here, were revealed in court. In a statement, the AFP confirmed his alleged involvement was in a syndicate using couriers to smuggle cocaine from Brazil and New Zealand into Australia. They will allege he was one of nine people arrested on the Gold Coast and NZ as a result of the joint investigation by the AFP and Queensland Police Service, with assistance from New Zealand Police. Police said they seized about 17 kilograms of cocaine during the investigation. “The WAPF traffic officers were allegedly suspicious about the identification details the man provided and subsequently made enquiries with Australian Border Force (ABF),” the statement said. “Police will allege those enquiries with the ABF established the man was a long-term unlawful non-citizen of Australia and was also subject to the outstanding arrest warrant in Queensland. “The man had been living in WA but it is not known when he left Queensland.” AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Ben Moses thanked WA Police for their eagle eyes. “The diligence they showed in checking this man’s identity will ensure he faces prosecution over his alleged role in a significant drug importation plot,” Detective Acting Superintendent Moses said. “The seizure of the cocaine and the illicit cash a decade ago stopped significant profits flowing to the syndicate to fund other criminal ventures, but we also want to ensure anyone involved in the illicit drug trade is identified and prosecuted.”