Three Men Jailed After Capsizing Cocaine Cruiser
Three men who sank a drug-filled luxury sports cruiser in the waters off Western Australia in 2023 have been sentenced to a combined 29 years and six months' imprisonment for their roles in a botched plot to import more than 300kg of cocaine into the state.
The men, aged 38, 47 and 51, each pleaded guilty to one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, contrary to section 307.1 of the Criminal Code (Cth).
The 38-year-old was sentenced to nine years and three months' imprisonment with a non-parole period of six years.
The 47-year-old was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment with a non-parole period of five years.
The 51-year-old was sentenced to 12 years and three months' imprisonment with a non-parole period of eight years.
The investigation began in early February, 2023, when Western Australia Police Force (WAPF) officers helped rescue the men from the ocean off Albany, Western Australia.
Police became suspicious about the trio's claim that their vessel had capsized during a fishing trip, with officers then alerting the AFP, and Operation Ayr commenced.
Almost a week later, a plastic-wrapped package containing multiple smaller packages of cocaine washed ashore about 55km west of Albany, before a seven-metre sports cruiser named Aces and Eights was found overturned.
That night, AFP officers executed a search warrant on the cruiser and seized 273 packages containing about 274kg of a white substance.
Forensic testing confirmed the total pure weight of the cocaine found inside the vessel to be 229.17kg.
Police believe the drugs had been collected from the ocean before the vessel capsized in rough waters on their way back to shore.
The third man was arrested after a six-week manhunt, after AFP specialist operations Tactical Response Team officers found him hidden at a home in Byford. This man – who is the registered owner of Aces and Eights – was discovered in a secret compartment under a spa and had a loaded gun in a bag beside him.
