POLICE today announced the seizure of 416 kilograms of cocaine, which was found floating off the coast of the Yorke Peninsula. The drugs were allegedly thrown from a bulk carrier.
Four Filipino foreign nationals, who were crew members of a bulker, are due to appear in an Adelaide court tomorrow on charges relating to the illicit drug importation.
The four men, aged between 29 and 44, have been charged with importation of a commercial quantity of cocaine. If convicted, the accused face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
The multi-jurisdictional operation that found the drugs involved the AFP, Australian Border Force, South Australia Police (SAPOL), Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) and the Department of Home Affairs. Investigations continue and further arrests are expected.
Police will allege crew members offloaded the shipment of drugs overboard once in South Australian waters in mid-March.
Australian Border Force Acting Chief Superintendent Alex Kelsall said: “On 17 March, Australian Border Force officers searched a bulk carrier merchant vessel in Port Adelaide.
“During the search, ABF officers located evidence that led them to believe the vessel had potentially been involved in the drop off of a significant quantity of drugs at sea,” Acting Chief Superintendent Kelsall said.
“In response, supported by partner agencies, ABF officers commenced operational activity along the South Australian coastline, which included extensive land, marine and air patrols.”
Acting Chief Superintendent Kelsall went on to say ABF offers found the cocaine “a substantial distance” off the coast and towed the drugs to shore.
“We’re proud to say this represents the largest border-controlled drug detection in South Australia’s history. We are determined to prevent illegal drugs from entering Australia and causing harm to the community,” Acting Chief Superintendent Kelsall said.
“This was an exceptionally well executed operation by the ABF to effectively find a needle in a haystack.”
AFP Assistant Commissioner Peter Harvey said it was likely the illicit drugs would have been distributed across Australia by criminals associated with serious organised crime.
“While the alleged cocaine importation is the largest ever detected by law enforcement in South Australia, it is most certain the drugs would have been trafficked to other Australian states,’’ Assistant Commissioner Harvey said.
“Illicit drug trafficking can also bankroll other abhorrent crimes, such as human trafficking and sexual servitude.”
According to local media, the vessel involved was the Kypros Bravery. According to AIS data, the vessel is at Port Adelaide, where it arrived on 20 March.
