Australia's largest cocaine haul seized in Western Australia

Australian Federal Police (AFP) yesterday made what is potentially Australia's largest ever seizure of cocaine, when an operation in Western Australia resulted in about one tonne (1,000 kg) of what is believed to be cocaine being seized in Dulverton Bay (near Denham on the central Western Australia Coast), the Minister for Justice and Customs and Senator for Western Australia, Senator Chris Ellison, announced.

Customs and the Western Australia Police Service, in particular the Tactical Response Group were also crucial to the operation.

The exact weight and composition of the drug is yet to be positively determined, but initial field tests indicate it is likely to be cocaine.

The seizure at Dulverton Bay, about 50 kilometres south west of the township of Denham which is about 700 kilometres north of Perth was the culmination of two months intensive investigation by the AFP, Senator Ellison explained.

In the final stages of the operation the Western Australia Police Tactical Response Group assisted Federal Agents in arresting three men allegedly involved in the cocaine importation. Two others males were later arrested in the Geraldton area.

The AFP had gained intelligence that a shipment from South America may have been headed for Australia.

AFP surveilled two men from Perth who they believed were involved in the importation. Initially travelling to Broome, the two men then travelled to the Geraldton area to allegedly prepare to offload the cocaine.

At the same time Customs Coastwatch Dash-8 surveillance aircraft closely monitored the passage of the vessel as it approached Australian waters. Two Bay Class Customs marine vessels ACV Holdfast Bay and ACV Roebuck Bay and were strategically positioned to monitor and board the offending vessel, if necessary.

The success of this operation was partly due to the skills and endurance of AFP surveillance officers and investigations team who conducted extensive surveillance on the suspects over large distances in difficult terrain, in some remote parts of Western Australia.

The flexibility and sophistication of Customs surveillance resources both aerial and marine, part of the Government's $124 million upgrade of Australia's coastal surveillance, were also crucial to the operation.

"This seizure represents a major blow to the international drug cartels," Senator Ellison said. "It has prevented almost five million hits of cocaine, with a potential street value of $250 million from reaching our streets."

"It is the result of excellent work by the Australian Federal Police, Customs and Western Australia Police and shows that the Government's Tough on Drugs Strategy is continuing to achieve solid results.

"I want to take this opportunity to thank the Western Australia Police Service for the assistance they provided to this operation.

"It is these close relationships between Australian law enforcement agencies as well as overseas law enforcement partners that really gives us the upper hand over transnational crime syndicates.

"These key relationships, coupled with the AFP's international liaison network enable us to take the fight against international drug cartels off-shore and be proactive in preventing the wares of these drug cartels from reaching Australia," Senator Ellison said.

Two American nationals aged 46 and 58 years and three Columbian Nationals aged 46, 32 and 31 years have been arrested and charged. The three men arrested on the beach at Dulverton Bay have been charged with importing a prohibited import, and two arrested in the Geraldton area were charged with being knowingly concerned in the importation of a prohibited import.

The maximum penalty for each of these offences is 25 years imprisonment.

The five men charged are due to appear in the Geraldton Court on Saturday 28 July after 10.00am.

"This record seizure follows a huge amphetamine haul by AFP and Customs on the Sunshine and Gold Coasts just over a week ago," Senator Ellison said. "It demonstrates the Government's continuing support for major law enforcement operations across the length and breadth of the country."

Media Inquiries: Donna Taylor 0409 240 254 (Minister's Office)
Beryl Janz 0412 627 148 (Federal Police)

Federal agents unloading the seized packages which are believed to contain cocaine.