Media Release
Four charged and about 525kg of cocaine found off WA coast
This is a joint release between Australian Federal Police, Western Australia Police Force, Australian Border Force, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and AUSTRAC
Four men, including the chief officer of an international livestock carrier, have been charged over their alleged roles in an organised crime plot to import more than 525kg of cocaine, after packages of the drug were found floating in the ocean off Western Australia.
A Western Australia Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (WA JOCTF) investigation into suspicious activity by an international vessel was already under way when members of the public alerted police on 6 November after finding large packages tied to flotation drums about 30km offshore.
Later that day, Western Australia Police Force (WAPF) and AFP officers collected the bundles off the coast of Lancelin, about 125km north of Perth, with the seizure estimated to contain about 525kg of cocaine.
Forensic specialists are examining the seized drugs to determine the exact weight and purity, but it is estimated this shipment could have been distributed as more than 2.6 million individual street deals with a street value of more than $170 million*.
The WA JOCTF will allege the drugs were dropped into the ocean from an international livestock carrier on its way to Fremantle Harbour.
On 7 November, 2025, police charged the vessel’s chief officer – a 46-year-old Croatian national – with attempting to import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug.
During a search of the ship, JOCTF investigators located a blue drum and ropes allegedly similar to those found with the drugs. 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.
A Perth man, 52, and two Sydney men, aged 19 and 36, have also been charged in connection with the thwarted import.
On 3 November, emergency services were called about a vessel in distress off the coast of Guilderton.
Two Sydney men, age 19 and 36, were found on a boat that was taking on water and were brought safely to shore without injury.
Police began investigating after details of their trip raised suspicions.
Those inquiries led to the identification of a 52-year-old Perth man.
Police will allege all three men made attempts at various times to retrieve the cocaine from the ocean after launching boats from Two Rocks boat ramp.
The 52-year-old was charged in Perth on 6 November with one count of attempt to possess a prohibited drug, contrary to section 6(1)(a) of the Misuse of Drugs Act (WA).
The 19-year-old was arrested in Sydney on 18 November and was extradited to WA.
He appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on 20 November, 2025, charged with one count of possessing a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border controlled drug, namely cocaine, contrary to section 307.5 of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is life imprisonment.
The 36-year-old was arrested in Sydney on 20 November, 2025. He appeared in court in NSW on 21 November and was also extradited to WA. He has also been charged with one count of possessing a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border controlled drug.
The 46-year-old Croatian national was remanded in custody to next appear in Perth Magistrates Court on 23 January, 2026. The maximum penalty for attempting to import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug is life imprisonment.
Investigations remain ongoing into the organised crime syndicate behind the plot and the origin of the cocaine, with more arrests expected.
AFP Assistant Commissioner Pryce Scanlan said the WA JOCTF continued to harness the combined might of its partner agencies to disrupt organised crime groups causing harm in Australian communities.
“The AFP is constantly sharing with and receiving intelligence from international counterparts, so we are in position to defend Australia from these threats, wherever they originate,” Assistant Commissioner Scanlan said.
“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.
“The WA JOCTF is well-resourced, capable and unrelenting in our efforts to protect Australians and disrupt criminal activity.
“Everyone has a part to play in keeping Australia safe. If you have seen suspicious activity at boat ramps or on the water recently, please report it to police.”
WA Police Assistant Commissioner State Crime, Tony Longhorn said this seizure highlighted the strength and collaboration between partner agencies, in making Western Australia a hostile environment for those seeking to import illicit substances.
“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,” Assistant Commissioner Longhorn said.
“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. This 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.”
ABF Acting Commander Linda Jose said the ABF worked side-by-side with its partner agencies both here and overseas to target the ‘trusted insiders’ who infiltrated international supply chains in attempts to import illicit drugs.
“Criminal syndicates are relentless in their efforts to flood our shores with illicit drugs with the sole motivation being greed and profit,” A/g Commander Jose said.
“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.”
AUSTRAC National Manager Law Enforcement, Anthony Helmond, said the arrests were a great example of how law enforcement and intelligence agencies worked together to protect the community.
“AUSTRAC’s financial intelligence continues to support our partner agencies in their frontline work, which has resulted in a significant amount of harmful illicit drugs being kept off the streets,” he said.
“These arrests send an important message to criminals - Australia’s law enforcement and intelligence communities are vigilantly watching, and together we will protect the community and stop criminals from inflicting their harms.”
Police also urged the community to call 131 444 immediately if they found any suspicious packages in the ocean or washed up along WA’s coastline.
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. Instead, call police immediately.
Anyone with information that can assist this investigation is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The WA JOCTF combines the resources and capabilities of the AFP, WAPF, Australian Border Force, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and AUSTRAC, to target transnational serious organised criminals causing harm in WA and across Australia.
*Source: ACIC illicit drug calculator
**Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Note to media
Media are encouraged to include help-seeking information in stories about illicit drugs to minimise any negative impact on people in the community. The following services provide people with access to support and information.
- For free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drug treatment services call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015.
- Access free 24/7 drug and alcohol counselling online.
- For information about drug and alcohol addiction treatment or support, go to Turning Point.
