A cocaine scuba mule has been detained in Newcastle Port as he attempts to depart Australia

Detectives probing the death of a diver who died while attempting to collect $20 million in cocaine have arrested a guy in North Queensland who was reportedly attempting to flee the country.

On Wednesday afternoon, Queensland police and Australian Federal Police apprehended a 62-year-old man as he attempted to board an aircraft to Singapore.

The individual is accused of bringing in a significant commercial quantity of border prohibited drugs as well as a large commercial drug supply.

After the body of a diver and 54kg of cocaine were discovered in Newcastle port, NSW, on Monday, the man was arrested by Strike Force Groove, which was established by the NSW Organised Crime Squad.

Officers from the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, Northern Territory Police, and Queensland Police have joined the team.

The body of the man, who was dressed in specialized diving gear, washed ashore on Monday, and authorities believe he was smuggling drugs using ‘old school’ methods rarely used by modern drug cartels.

Off Heron Road, near the Port of Newcastle, an unidentified diver was discovered in the water carrying more than 50 kg of cocaine.