German yacht owner and partner charged with aiding drug fugitive's escape attempt

German national Thomas Goertz and his partner Jade Siu Ying Ormiston have been committed to stand trial in Darwin for an alleged scheme to smuggle drug trafficker Hussein Chamas out of Australia. Authorities intercepted their yacht, the SS Coconuts, in the Arafura Sea following an Australian Border Force raid on Australia Day 2025. According to court filings, the duo met Chamas on a beach near Nhulunbuy and intended to ferry him into international waters toward West Papua, contravening court orders that barred his departure.

Judge David Woodroffe highlighted encrypted messages that suggest Goertz has a history of “high-risk” extractions for financial gain. A fourth conspirator, Irish national Stephen Roche, has already admitted to driving Chamas nearly 5,000 km to the remote town. Bail remains extended, and the defendants will appear before the NT Supreme Court on September 17 for the charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.