Police have charged a man over what's been dubbed one of the largest cocaine drug busts in Western Australia's history.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) revealed yesterday they were searching for three men after 365 kilograms of cocaine was allegedly found in packages inside a capsized vessel on a beach on Western Australia's southern coast last week.
Aristides Avlontis, 36, was arrested at a home in Darwin on Wednesday morning and is due to appear in court on Thursday.
The AFP said it would apply for an extradition to Western Australia to face a charge of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug.
Three men were rescued from after they were found clinging to an esky on February 1 in the ocean off Albany.
The trio's boat had capsized and had started sinking.
A week later, AFP said it discovered six suspicious packages on the capsized boat, which washed ashore near Peaceful Bay, about 80km west of Albany.
A similar package was discovered on a beach in Denmark.
Police are also continuing to search for 49-year-old Mate Stipinovich and 45-year-old Karl Whitburn, who are both believed to be in Western Australia.
One of them is the registered owner of the boat where the illicit drugs were found.
AFP Acting Commander Graeme Marshall urged the men to hand themselves in.
"We are also appealing for anyone else to call us if they have information to help us find the men, or know anything about this drug importation," he said.
