Three Western Australian men have been sentenced to a combined 29 years and six months in prison after a luxury sports cruiser carrying more than 300 kilograms of cocaine capsized off WA’s southern coastline in 2023.

The Perth District Court delivered the sentences on 22 October 2025. The men, aged 38, 47, and 51, had all pleaded guilty to importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug under Australian law.

Individually, the 38-year-old received nine years and three months, with a non-parole period of six years; the 47-year-old was given eight years, with five years non-parole; and the 51-year-old, owner of the vessel named Aces and Eights, was sentenced to 12 years and three months, with an eight-year non-parole period.

The incident began in February 2023 when WA Police rescued the trio from the waters near Albany in the state’s Great Southern region. The men initially claimed their vessel had overturned during a fishing trip, but officers became suspicious and alerted the Australian Federal Police, leading to Operation Ayr.

Within a week, a package containing multiple smaller parcels of cocaine washed ashore near Denmark, approximately 55 kilometres west of Albany. Shortly afterwards, a seven-metre sports cruiser was found overturned off Peaceful Bay, roughly 45 kilometres west of Denmark.

Police searches of the vessel revealed 273 plastic-wrapped packages containing about 274 kilograms of a white substance. Forensic analysis confirmed the total pure weight of cocaine as 229.17 kilograms. Authorities believe the men had collected the drugs from the ocean before rough waters caused the cruiser to capsize.

Following confirmation of the cocaine, arrest warrants were issued. The 38-year-old was arrested in Darwin on 15 February 2023 by Northern Territory Police, while the 47-year-old was caught in Perth’s north-eastern suburbs on 9 March.

The 51-year-old evaded authorities for six weeks before AFP Tactical Response officers located him in Byford, hiding in a secret compartment beneath a spa. A loaded firearm was found beside him.

AFP Acting Commander Murray Taylor said the investigation involved several agencies and took long hours of detailed work to bring the men to justice. He also thanked local residents in the Great Southern region for their help.

Taylor stated the cocaine would likely have been distributed nationally, potentially affecting thousands of Australians.

Meanwhile, ABF Commander Ranjeev Maharaj emphasised the importance of protecting Australia’s borders, calling the operation a key example of how coordinated law enforcement makes the country’s borders hostile to criminal networks.

Reference: AFP