An alleged bikie at the centre of an extraordinary people-smuggling investigation has claimed he was not trying to flee Australia aboard a luxury yacht intercepted off the Western Australian coast.
Dylan Ryan Tuckwell-Cvek, 32, was extradited back to Queensland this week after police boarded a vessel about 53km off Exmouth as part of an alleged plot to smuggle him out of the country.
Authorities allege Tuckwell-Cvek was travelling towards Indonesia when tactical officers intercepted the newly purchased yacht on Monday morning.
But while being escorted through Brisbane Airport under police guard on Thursday, Tuckwell-Cvek insisted his destination was much closer to home.
‘I was just trying to get to Darwin,’ he told News Corp.
The accused outlaw motorcycle gang member also made clear he was unhappy with his legal predicament.
Dylan Tuckwell-Cvek, pictured during a fight under the name Dylan Wolf, arrived in Brisbane under police guard after being extradited from Western Australia following the alleged yacht smuggling plot
The 32-year-old accused bikie claimed he was heading to Darwin, not Indonesia, after police intercepted a luxury yacht off Exmouth
‘A good lawyer would be nice’ to ‘get out of jail sooner (rather) than later’, he said.
When questioned about why he had not informed Queensland authorities of his interstate travel, Tuckwell-Cvek replied: ‘They didn’t ask.’
He then added: ‘I didn’t want to be found.’
Tuckwell-Cvek also claimed he had not committed any offences in Western Australia.
‘I haven’t been charged for anything, I asked Western Australia Police if I’ve broken the law, they said nah,’ he said.
Queensland Police confirmed the 32-year-old was extradited on return-to-prison and drug trafficking warrants after the dramatic interception at sea.
Police say he is also wanted for questioning over multiple serious crimes.
The matter was briefly mentioned in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday, where Tuckwell-Cvek was remanded in custody.
Tuckwell-Cvek was remanded in custody after appearing in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday
Authorities allege the fugitive was the target of a coordinated operation to smuggle him out of Australia by sea
He faces allegations including trafficking dangerous drugs, assault occasioning bodily harm, unlicensed driving and evading police.
There was no bail application and Acting Magistrate Jon Ide adjourned the matter until July 6.
The alleged smuggling operation has already made legal history in Western Australia.
Police allege Queensland pair Cass Williams, 46, and Jessica Beckett, 45, travelled west and crewed the newly purchased yacht from Perth to Exmouth before meeting Tuckwell-Cvek.
Authorities claim the vessel was intercepted about 50km off the coast of Exmouth while heading towards Indonesia.
NSW woman Fatma Skaf, 40, has also been charged after police alleged she drove Tuckwell-Cvek to an Exmouth boat ramp before the voyage.
Williams and Beckett have been charged with attempted people smuggling, while Skaf has been charged with aiding attempted people smuggling.
The prosecutions are believed to be the first attempted people-smuggling charges laid in Western Australia.
The investigation is being led by the WA Joint Organised Crime Taskforce, which includes the Australian Federal Police, WA Police, Australian Border Force, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and AUSTRAC.
Detective Inspector Dave Barron said Queensland investigators were grateful for the assistance of their interstate counterparts.
‘We’re grateful to our colleagues at the AFP and Western Australia Police Force who worked with us to locate the wanted Queensland man,’ Det Insp Barron said.
The case returns to court next month as authorities continue investigating the alleged organised crime syndicate behind the yacht operation.
