Massive Cocaine Haul Intercepted Off Australian Coast
Australian authorities have successfully thwarted a major international drug smuggling operation, seizing approximately 525 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value exceeding $170 million. The illicit drugs were discovered floating in the ocean about 30 kilometres off the coast north of Perth, tied to floating drums in a sophisticated maritime smuggling attempt.
The Failed Smuggling Operation Unravels
The investigation began on November 6 when an alert fisherman noticed suspicious packages attached to floating drums and immediately contacted Western Australian Police. According to Assistant Commissioner State Crime Tony Longhorn, this discovery prevented a significant quantity of cocaine from reaching criminal networks. "We can confidently say it's from South America," Mr Longhorn stated, highlighting the global reach of drug cartels.
Police revealed that the drugs had been dropped into the ocean from the international livestock carrier Al Kuwait between November 1 and 3 while the vessel was en route to Fremantle Harbour. The cocaine haul represents more than 2.6 million individual street deals, making it one of the largest interdictions in recent memory.
Arrests and Investigation Details
Four men now face serious charges in connection with the elaborate smuggling plot. The alleged participants include the 46-year-old Croatian chief officer of the Al Kuwait, who was charged on November 7 with attempting to import a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug. He remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on January 23.
Investigators uncovered compelling evidence during a search of the livestock carrier. "There was also some repaired railing, which looked as though it had been cut to enable the offloading of the commodity and then re-welded," Assistant Commissioner Longhorn explained. Police also found a blue drum and ropes matching those used with the drug packages.
The investigation expanded when emergency services rescued two Sydney men, aged 19 and 36, from a boat taking on water off the same coastal area on November 3. Local residents had reported the men to authorities after observing their "incompetence" on the water. "They know when people don't belong on a boat or in the ocean," Mr Longhorn noted regarding the community's vigilance.
Police identified a 52-year-old Perth man as another alleged member of the shore party attempting to retrieve the cocaine. According to authorities, the retrieval attempts were notably unsuccessful. "One lot got horribly bogged on the beach in Lancelin trying to retrieve it, and the second lot forgot to put their bungs in their boat," Mr Longhorn revealed, though investigators suspect some cocaine may have been successfully collected before their intervention.
The two Sydney men were extradited to Western Australia and have already appeared in court, while authorities continue searching for a fifth suspect believed to be involved in the shore operations. All four arrested men face various drug-related charges in what police describe as a significant blow to international drug trafficking networks operating in Australian waters.
