Police uncover alleged attempt to import $170m of cocaine via livestock carrier, drugs found on Lancelin coast

Half a tonne of cocaine has been found floating off the coast of Lancelin, leading police to charge the chief officer of an international livestock carrier over a botched attempt at smuggling the drugs into WA. A joint taskforce of investigators from agencies including WA Police and Australian Federal Police descended on the coast of the sleepy town, about 125km north of Perth, after members of the public noticed “large packages” tied to flotation drums about 30km off shore on November 6. Police were already investigating suspicious activity by an international livestock carrier in the area when the public reported the shocking discovery — packages containing about 525kg of cocaine. The drugs, allegedly dumped in the ocean by the same livestock carrier while en-route to Fremantle harbour, were seized by police. It is estimated the cocaine has a street value of more than $170 million and is equivalent to at least $2.6 million individual street deals. Just one day after the drugs were seized, police charged a 46-year-old, the chief officer of the livestock carrier, with attempting to import the drug. He now faces the possibility of life imprisonment. An AFP spokesperson said when investigators from the joint organised crime taskforce boarded the ship, they allegedly found a blue drum and ropes which were similar to those found with the cocaine. “It will also be alleged examination of the vessel identified that rails had been removed and reinstalled without welding work permits submitted and that a CCTV camera had been covered while the drugs were allegedly offloaded from the ship,” they said. Three other men were charged over the failed drug import — two from Sydney and a Perth man. Police allege the men tried to retrieve the drugs by launching boats from the Two Rocks boat ramp, about 60km north of Perth’s CBD. In a bizarre chain of events which ultimately put them in the iron sights of police days before the giant cocaine haul was found, the two Sydney men, aged 19 and 36, were rescued of the coast of Guilderton after the boat they were in started taking on water on November 3. They were unscathed after being taken back to shore by authorities, before they later travelled back to NSW. Police identified a 52-year-old Perth man after they grew suspicious of the two Sydney men’s failed venture at sea. Both Sydney men were extradited back to WA and are now before the courts in Perth, charged with possessing a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border controlled drug. Police said the Perth-based man was charged with attempting to possess the drugs. The joint taskforce is continuing to probe the organs of the cocaine and police expect to make more arrests. As the investigation into the alleged criminal syndicate is ongoing, the public is urged to immediately call police on 131 444 if they find any suspicious packages in the ocean or washed up on WA’s coast. “If anyone finds a package potentially filled with illicit drugs on the beach, they should not open it or take it home as this could be an offence,” the AFP spokesperson said. . The WA joint organised crime taskforce consists of investigators from WA Police, Australian Border Force, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, AFP and the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre. WA police assistant commissioner Tony Longhorn, of the State crime division, said the major operation should “send a clear message to organised crime groups that Western Australia is not a soft target.” “We will find you and we will bring you to justice,” he said. “This seizure represents a significant disruption to organised crime networks attempting to target Western Australia. The successful recovery of these drugs is the result of a complex, multi-agency operation and demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protecting the community from the impact of illicit substances. “The transportation and distribution of illicit drugs across our national borders continues to be of a high focus for WA Police, and we will continue to actively disrupt and prevent their activities. “We are pleased that more than 500 kilograms of cocaine have been taken out of the hands of a criminal network.” AFP assistant commissioner Pryce Scanlan urged anyone who spotted suspicious activity on the coast to contact police immediately as the investigation remains ongoing. “There is violence and exploitation throughout the illicit drug supply chain and drug use puts immense pressure on our health systems - in 2022-23 there were 985 cocaine-related hospitalisations nationally, more than two each day on average,” he said. ABF Acting Commander Linda Jose said officers probing drug imports utilised “trusted insiders” who have “infiltrated” supply chains used by criminals. “Criminal syndicates are relentless in their efforts to flood our shores with illicit drugs with the sole motivation being greed and profit.” “Our officers continually monitor international vessels and their crews entering Australia, looking for any anomalies or potential trusted insider threat and will not hesitate to act with our partners when suspicious activity is uncovered, including by searching vessels as they arrive into ports.”