Three men who sank a drug-filled luxury sports cruiser in the waters off Western Australia in 2023 have been sentenced to a combined 29 years and six months' imprisonment for their roles in a botched plot to import more than 300kg of cocaine into the state.
The WA men, aged 38, 47 and 51, each pleaded guilty to one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, contrary to section 307.1 of the Criminal Code (Cth).
The 38-year-old was sentenced to nine years and three months' imprisonment with a non-parole period of six years.
The 47-year-old was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment with a non-parole period of five years.
The 51-year-old was sentenced to 12 years and three months' imprisonment with a non-parole period of eight years.
They were each sentenced in the Perth District Court yesterday (22 October, 2025).
The investigation began in early February, 2023, when Western Australia Police Force (WAPF) officers helped rescue the men from the ocean off Albany, in WA's Great Southern region.
Police became suspicious about the trio's claim that their vessel had capsized during a fishing trip, with officers then alerting the AFP, and Operation Ayr commenced.
Almost a week later, a plastic-wrapped package containing multiple smaller packages of cocaine washed ashore near Denmark, about 55km west of Albany, before a seven-metre sports cruiser named 'Aces and Eights' was found overturned off Peaceful Bay, about 45km west of Denmark, on 8 February, 2023.
That night, AFP officers executed a search warrant on the cruiser and seized 273 packages containing about 274kg of a white substance.
Forensic testing confirmed the total pure weight of the cocaine found inside the vessel to be 229.17kg.
Police believe the drugs had been collected from the ocean before the vessel capsized in rough waters on their way back to shore.
Following confirmation the substance contained in the packages was cocaine, warrants were issued for their arrest.
Northern Territory Police Force officers arrested the 38-year-old after finding him inside a Darwin home on 15 February, 2023. The 47-year-old was arrested in Perth's north-eastern suburbs on 9 March, 2023.
The third man was arrested after a six-week manhunt on 22 March, 2023, after AFP specialist operations Tactical Response Team officers found him hidden at a home in Byford. This man - who is the registered owner of 'Aces and Eights' - was discovered in a secret compartment under a spa and had a loaded gun in a bag beside him.
AFP Acting Commander Murray Taylor said the success of the complex investigation highlighted the dedicated and relentless work of the AFP and its partners.
"This investigation involved many long days and nights to obtain evidence related to this matter and bring these three men before the courts," a/Commander Taylor said.
"The community also played a massive role, especially in WA's Great Southern region, and the AFP cannot thank them enough for their assistance.
"We believe this amount of cocaine would have been distributed across Australia, not just in WA, and in turn, negatively impacted thousands of lives.
"The AFP and its partners will continue to target and disrupt local and offshore criminals who import drugs, to ensure we can protect the Australian community."
ABF Commander Ranjeev Maharaj commended the officers involved in the multi-agency operation.
"The Australian border is one of our most critical national assets, we must continue to uphold our border integrity," Commander Maharaj said.
"Along with our state and federal partners, we must make the border a hostile environment for criminals trying to infiltrate our shores. Every consignment intercepted removes potential harm from the community."
