Sixth Man Charged in Connection with 525kg Cocaine Importation Plot Off Western Australia Coast

A 44-year-old man from Myaree in Perth was arrested and charged over his alleged involvement in a major drug importation plot, becoming the sixth person to face court proceedings related to a significant cocaine seizure off the Western Australia coast. The man was arrested yesterday by the Western Australia Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (WA JOCTF) in the Perth suburb of Mariginiup and was expected to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on Saturday, January 10, 2026.

The investigation centers on a major drug trafficking operation that came to light when members of the public discovered over 525 kilograms of cocaine tied to flotation drums approximately 30 kilometers off the coast of Lancelin, north of Perth, on November 6, 2025. The WA JOCTF had already commenced an investigation into organized crime activities when this discovery was made.

Some of the drugs that were seized // Supplied: WA Police

According to police allegations, the cocaine had been deliberately dropped into the ocean from an international livestock vessel during the overnight hours of October 31, 2025, while the ship was traveling toward Fremantle Harbour. This deliberate placement in the water was part of a coordinated plan to retrieve the drugs at a later time away from port authorities.

Police allege that the Myaree man was part of a criminal group that made multiple trips out to sea from Two Rocks Marina during early November 2025 in an attempt to retrieve the submerged cocaine. Specifically, police allege that the Myaree man and a 52-year-old Perth man traveled out to sea on a small boat on November 2, 2025, following discussions they had conducted on an encrypted messaging application designed to conceal their communications.

The vessel's chief officer, a 46-year-old Croatian national, has been charged with attempting to import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug. Additionally, another Perth man aged 52 and three Sydney men aged 19, 22, and 36 have all been charged for their alleged roles in attempting to collect the cocaine from the ocean. These five individuals remain before the courts as their cases progress through the legal system.

The Myaree man has been charged with one count of attempt to possess a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported cocaine, contrary to section 307.5 of the Criminal Code. This charge carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, reflecting the serious nature of the alleged offense.

Law enforcement agencies calculated that if the 525 kilograms of cocaine had not been intercepted, it could have been distributed as approximately 2.6 million individual street deals and would have generated an estimated $170 million in criminal proceeds for those involved in the operation.

The WA JOCTF is a multi-agency task force that combines resources and capabilities from the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Western Australia Police Force, Australian Border Force, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, and AUSTRAC. Detective Inspector Matt Taylor from the WA JOCTF indicated that authorities remain committed to identifying everyone involved in the smuggling plot. He emphasized that the task force is dedicated to protecting the Australian community from harm caused by illicit drugs and preventing organized crime syndicates from profiting through drug trafficking operations.

Law enforcement officials have highlighted the broader public health impact of cocaine trafficking. In the 2022-23 period, cocaine-related hospitalizations in Australia totaled 985, representing an average of more than two hospitalizations per day. This data underscores the significant strain that cocaine use places on health systems and community safety.

The investigation remains active and ongoing, with authorities indicating that further arrests have not been ruled out as they continue to identify individuals involved in the importation and distribution plot. Members of the public with information that could assist the investigation are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.