The Australian Federal Police (AFP) reported a major operation off the coast of Western Australia: the first mate of the livestock carrier Al Kuwait and three others have been charged with attempting to import a commercial shipment of cocaine.
Law enforcement officers discovered more than 525 kg of cocaine, with a preliminary value of 170 million AUD, in the ocean off Lancelin. According to investigators, the drug was dumped from the Al Kuwait, after which three Australians were supposed to recover it from the water in small boats.
During a search of the vessel, police found evidence pointing to the possible involvement of the crew:
🟢 An industrial drum similar to the packaging of the recovered packages;
🟢 A dismantled guard rail, which facilitates the dumping of cargo overboard;
🟢 a disabled CCTV camera on deck;
🟢 evidence of equipment tampering.
The main suspect in the case is a 46-year-old Croatian citizen, the Al Kuwait’s first mate. He was brought to Perth Magistrates’ Court, where he faces charges. The maximum penalty for this charge is life imprisonment.
✈️ Three other defendants—men from Perth and Sydney—were arrested for attempting to retrieve drugs dumped from the ship. The investigation is ongoing, and law enforcement is looking into the group’s possible international connections.
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