Shocking 200kg discovery is made in a hotel room as cops arrest two men
Two men are accused of smuggling 200kg of cocaine into Australia in a clandestine plot involving a small plane, a remote airstrip and night vision goggles.
Australian Federal Police arrested a Victorian man, 48, and a South African national, 44, in Perth’s CBD at 6pm on Saturday following an investigation that began in October.
Both men have been charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of a controlled drug and face a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison if convicted.
Police searched the Victorian man’s hotel room in Perth and reportedly found around 200kg of cocaine, in one-kilogram blocks, in six suitcases, as well as electronic devices, night vision goggles and a VHF radio with aircraft tape.
They then searched the South African man’s hotel room, reportedly seizing four empty suitcases, air navigation equipment, a hardware cryptocurrency wallet and other electronic devices.
Police allege the Victorian man rented a commercial vehicle in Perth on Boxing Day and loaded it with several suitcases and jerry cans.
The South African man is said to have encountered a small plane the next day at Overlander airstrip, about 700km north of Perth.
Police allege the pair met in Perth on Saturday and bought more suitcases, before throwing their luggage and jerry cans in a shopping center bin a few hours later.
A Victorian man and a South African national have been accused of using a regional airport and night vision goggles to transport 200kg of cocaine to Perth (pictured, one of the suspects)
Investigators are said to have found a receipt for the suitcases in the Victorian man’s hotel room.
AFP Inspector Chris Colley said the charges highlight the lengths criminals would go in their attempts to smuggle illegal drugs into and through Australia.
“The AFP has prevented these individuals – and an alleged organized crime syndicate likely responsible for this endeavor – from profiting from the distribution of this dangerous drug in and through Washington,” Insp Colley said.
The Victorian man has also been charged with possession of a controlled drug of cocaine and failing to provide police with access to an electronic device.
Federal police are trying to determine the connection between the seized cocaine and the small plane that arrived at the Overlander runway.