Australia has charged nine men over an alleged conspiracy to bring in 3.5 tonnes of cocaine and methamphetamine by sea and distribute the drugs nationwide, concluding an almost 10-month investigation by federal and state authorities.
The alleged smuggling operation came to light last May when a commercial trawler sank off the Victorian coast at Port Albert. Police officers monitoring the crew’s movements noted they had travelled out to sea in bad weather without standard fishing equipment, raising suspicion about the purpose of the voyage. In the following months, police conducted surveillance of several boat crews suspected to be linked to the syndicate.
