Does anyone know what happened to Bernie?

I can't find any updates on this story (at least one that isn't behind a paywall).

Quite *gutsy for him to (allegedly) do it again.

*gutsy might not be the best word for it

From the Courier Mail.

All five members of the alleged Monto ‘black flight’ have had their court proceedings delayed until September 5, 2023 as vital evidence remains held by third parties.

Bernard Hamilton Alexander, Nathan Bailey, Peter David Payne, Mark Brian Pracy and John Otto Hovarth had their matters mentioned and postponed in the Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Tuesday, July 11.

Cheers 👍

Is that the gent of L39 fame or an unfortunate coincidence?

Hi Squawk

The gent named in this matter is NOT the pilot of the L39.

Let's say an unfortunate coincidence.

Similar case 25 odd years ago, two guys, also in a Baron. On the way North they flew into Cairns and the pilot walked into a local flying school wanting a Baron endorsement, which raised some eye brows.

Whilst refueling one guy had a slab of coldies and cracked a few on the tarmac. By that stage the Feds were watching.........

They got jumped at Bamaga on their return. The Feds named them "Dumb and Dumber".

Last bit of news was their proceedings delayed until Sept. 5, are there any updates?

Itching to find out if they really flew non stop to Monto.

Back to court again on October 31.

Google search for their names after Sept 4:
https://www.google.com/search?q=Bern...cd_max%3A&tbm=

One news report:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-...ourt/102815474

A woman of Chinese origin who is a citizen of Papua New Guinea, with property holdings in Australia has been arrested and charged.

The as yet unidentified woman owns a Transport & Logistics company in Papua New Guinea.

The charges relate to the Beech Baron flight from Bulolo; not to be confused with the C402 at Lea Lea village

Woman charged with black flight loaded with 71.5kg meth – The National

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The woman arrested in Australia yesterday, is of Chinese origin and a PNG citizen

Drug queen detained - Post Courier

Found this on another forum. Delete if inappropriate.

This is culprit lady Mei Lin, the Chinese business lady based in Lae. She is the owner of company Golden Centre (Golden Apple) and owns also few businesses such as KC 2 Limited, Swing Bar Night Club at Eriku, Security Eyes (Security firm based in Pom), Arabica Coffee Exports Limited, plus others. She also involved in illegally purchasing National Housing Corporation properties here in Lae and Pom by conspiring with NHC officers. Authorities needs to get to the bottom of this and have her deported and banned from coming back to PNG and also shut all her businesses if she doesn't want to comply with our laws and paying taxes. Em meri blo mekim heavy bribery so the police and court officials must be honest in prosecuting her. Enough is enough!
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....8b39561697.jpg

I'm thinking she won't have to be deported from PNG. She is already in custody in Australia.

No chance of running the business from jail (hopefully) and if found guilty she will most likely be jailed for life.

PNG will not want her back!

Will the Beech Baron be confiscated and sold as part of proceeds of crime etc?

Wouldn’t a PNG jail be better punishment? Aussie low security jails are quite comfortable and our sentencing notoriously soft.

Why did they only attempt to bring in just 71kg when say 200+ kg was feasible for the exact same risk and cost?

How does a Baron fly nonstop from from Bulolo to Monto? Especially with some of it at low level.

The conspiracy theorist in me says they didn’t and it didn’t.

The latest reports suggest the total runs into BILLIONS of Kina and has connections to PNG Ministers past or present.

Drug queen well connected - Post Courier

Immigration under investigation - Post Courier

Is the appellation 'Drug Queen' not an assumption of guilt?

Lucille,

When the police have finished with the 'thumb screws' and "rubber persuaders' we'll learn where the en-route stop over was made. There may have even been a partial unloading of merchandise. This is not over yet?

Kagamuga,
Strangest thing is no one else’s curiosity has been piqued by this.

Mind you, the Baron may have had ferry tanks installed thus only room in the nose locker for the drugs. And the second crew member was there to assist with fuel transfer via a hand operated pump. Unless, of course, there were no ferry tanks installed.

I recall that the AFP had eyes in Bulolo, you’d think they would have known exactly how much was loaded.

Kagamuga is onto it.
Row 2 & 3 is one big bladder tank, only front two seats fitted.

Many years ago VH-EHN an early model B-55 was owned by Col. Edward H. Neil, Chairman of David Syme and Co, publishers of the Melbourne 'Age' newspaper. Col. Neil had a permanent long range tank installed in the very rear which was fitted and upholstered and looked like a permanent feature. Fitted with transfer pump and fuel gauge, filled through a conventional aperture in the fuselage just above the tank. It may even still be there today.

Bulolo to Monto is 1087nm direct so let's say 1100nm, therefore you don't require much 'additional' fuel to fly direct. However as Kagamuga has said, let's wait and see what transpires after the thumb screws are tightened! For the record Col Neil was a much decorate soldier, mentioned in despatches, had a farm just south of Berwick Airfield in Victoria, complete with a professionally built hangar, grass runway. No matter how much standing you have in the community it did not stop the SEC (State Electricity Commission) from constructing high voltage power lines and the huge towers to support the power grid, right through the middle of his airstrip!

Col Neil was a keen aviator and owned a Lear 25, VH-TNN (Ted and Nancy Neil)

Just thought I'd throw that in .......

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