Son found guilty of helping drug-runner dad with Newcastle cocaine shipment
James Lake-Kusviandy Blee has been found guilty of assisting his father in a cocaine importation operation in Newcastle. Despite his claims of innocence, the jury concluded that he was involved in the illegal activity. Blee is scheduled to be sentenced in July 2026.
- ▪James Lake-Kusviandy Blee, 24, was found guilty of aiding his father in a drug importation operation.
- ▪His father, James Blake Blee, was previously sentenced to over 11 years in prison for drug-related charges.
- ▪The trial revealed messages between father and son that suggested Blee was aware of the illegal nature of the operation.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
James Blee, 24, found guilty of helping father with Newcastle cocaine shipmentGBy Giselle WakatamaABC NewcastleTopic:CrimeWed 20 May 2026 at 12:16pmWed 20 May 2026 at 12:16pmWed 20 May 2026 at 12:16pmJames Lake-Kusviandy Blee denied any involvement in the drug retrieval operation. (Facebook)In short:James Lake-Kusviandy Blee, 24, has been found guilty of helping his father with a drug importation operation that went wrong in Newcastle in 2022.He argued he just ran errands for his father and did not know he was involved in illegal activity.What's next?Blee will be sentenced in July.abc.net.au/news/james-lake-kusviandy-blee-guilty-newcastle-cocaine-importation/106673764Link copiedShareShare articleThe son of a convicted drug smuggler has been found guilty of helping to retrieve cocaine from…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at ABC News (Australia).