Australian Olympic kayaker Nathan Baggaley JAILED for $200million cocaine ...

Australian Olympic kayaker Nathan Baggaley JAILED for $200million cocaine ...
Australian Olympic kayaker Nathan Baggaley JAILED for $200million cocaine ...

Seventeen years ago Australian canoeist Nathan Baggaley stood on an Olympic podium winning two silver medals within just a few hours.

But on Tuesday, the three-time world champion stood in a Brisbane court dock as he was sentenced to 25 years behind bars for his role in a bungled cocaine-smuggling plot.

Nathan Baggaley and his younger brother were each found guilty by a jury in April of attempting to import up to $200million worth of cocaine into the country.

At his height: Nathan Baggaley receives the silver medal in the K1-500m at the 2004 Olympics

At his height: Nathan Baggaley receives the silver medal in the K1-500m at the 2004 Olympics

Nathan Baggaley leaves Sydney Local Court in 2015 after pleading guilty to drugs charges

Nathan Baggaley leaves Sydney Local Court in 2015 after pleading guilty to drugs charges

Brisbane Supreme Court Justice Ann Lyons sentenced Dru Baggaley, 39, to 28 years in jail.

Nathan Baggaley, 45, will have to serve 12 years in custody before he is eligible to apply for parole, while Dru Baggaley will be eligible to apply for parole after 16 years.

Dru Baggaley, 39, and a man he recruited, Anthony Draper, were arrested three years ago almost to the day after venturing more than 360km out to sea on a rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) to meet a foreign freighter carrying packages of cocaine.

The men retrieved bundles thrown off the ship after the 11-hour journey, but on their return flung them into the sea when pursued by an Australian navy vessel.

They were arrested shortly before the RHIB reached the mainland.

The boat's registration was covered with duct tape that had Nathan Baggaley's fingerprints on the underside.

Baggaley won three world titles in the K1-500m event and was recognised as one of the finest and most powerful paddlers of his generation

Baggaley won three world titles in the K1-500m event and was recognised as one of the finest and most powerful paddlers of his generation

Dru Baggaley was a talented rugby forward before his entry into the world of illegal drugs

Dru Baggaley was a talented rugby forward before his entry into the world of illegal drugs

Bundles recovered at the time, together with those that washed ashore for months after, contained 650 kilograms of white powder containing cocaine worth between $130million and $200million.

Nathan Baggaley – who was on parole at the time of the importation attempt – was arrested almost a year later.

Justice Lyons earlier rejected Dru Baggaley's claim he should be sentenced on the basis he intended only to import tobacco, and the argument Nathan Baggaley's role was comparatively minimal as he simply aided his sibling.

Instead she found the former world champion was 'actively involved in the attempted importation of cocaine' and was to receive a substantial reward for his services. 

Anthony Draper, the man who drove the boat, was the mastermind of the plot to collect the drugs offshore, alleged Dru Baggaley's defence team

Anthony Draper, the man who drove the boat, was the mastermind of the plot to collect the drugs offshore, alleged Dru Baggaley's defence team

The boat purchased by Nathan Baggaley, shown during the pursuit at sea by authorities

The boat purchased by Nathan Baggaley, shown during the pursuit at sea by authorities

Drug Baggaley (left, in hood) and Anthony Draper are stopped by specialist members of the Queensland Police Force as they attempted to bring their haul back to shore

Drug Baggaley (left, in hood) and Anthony Draper are stopped by specialist members of the Queensland Police Force as they attempted to bring their haul back to shore

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