Quite A Ketch At Customs Auction

Sun Herald

Sunday November 16, 1997

By STEVE WARNOCK

GUN runner Michael James Bolger lost more than weapons when Customs officers raided his luxury yacht in 1992 at the southern NSW fishing village of Eden - they also seized the boat.

Bolger had hidden a machine-gun, five grenades and five high-powered guns behind a compartment in the 14-metre ketch Barruba's master bedroom.

But because Bolger, an Australian citizen with US residency, had not declared the guns, Customs seized the boat. Under the Customs Act anything used to bring goods into Australia illegally can be confiscated, with the smuggled property.

On Wednesday and Thursday Bolger's yacht - as well as six luxury cars, four motorcycles, millions of dollars worth of jewellery and a stack of alcohol - will go under the hammer at a $5 million auction at the Condell Park rooms of Mason Gray Strange Pty Ltd.

It is not known what Bolger, who was fined $1,000 for his gun-running, paid for his ketch, but Customs experts believe that with a new coat of paint the Barruba would fetch $200,000.

Another part of the once-a-year Customs auction this week is $1 million worth of diamonds.

The Malaysian smuggler was so keen to dodge a 22.5 per cent sales tax he stuffed the jewels inside his rear end.

Just how did Customs know the businessman had $1 million in diamonds on his person? "Let us just say our intelligence suggested the man had something to hide," a coy Greg Collins, the Customs industry services senior manager, said.

Another million-dollars worth of gold, made into brooches, necklaces and rings, is also up for auction, as are five cars, including a T-series Bentley.

Whisky and wine worth tens of thousands of dollars will be auctioned as well as clothing, furniture, sports goods and industrial equipment.

Mr Collins said the ketch Barruba could be inspected at the Australian Customs Marine Centre at Neutral Bay today, tomorrow and Tuesday (ph. 9954 4828).