Police raid granny flat linked to Brazilian cocaine diver’s death

Police have raided a Sydney property as part of their investigation into the death of a Brazilian diver and a linked cocaine haul in the New South Wales city of Newcastle.

Bruno Borges Martins, 31, was found unresponsive in the Hunter River on May 9, 2022, with 54 kilograms of cocaine located nearby.

Borges was believed to have travelled to Australia after allegedly being hired by drug smugglers to retrieve the cocaine bricks from a ship around the time of his death.

To date, two men have been charged and remain before the courts while police continue to search for a second diver, 32-year-old Jhoni Fernandes Da Silva.

Police established Da Silva is believed to have stayed for one or two months in a granny flat at the rear of a home on Jedda Road, Lurnea, in Sydney’s south-west.

Last week officers raided the property last Wednesday evening and carried out a forensic examination of the home, including fingerprint and DNA testing.

Earlier this month, police excavated a buried truck at a south-west Sydney property as part of the investigation.

Police will allege the white Mitsubishi Fuso truck was used by those involved with the failed drug retrieval.

Investigations under Strike Force Groove are continuing.

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.