Authorities have charged four men in connection with a major cocaine seizure off the coast of Western Australia, after about 525kg of the drug was recovered from the ocean earlier this month.

The haul, discovered by members of the public, prompted a multi-agency investigation into an organised crime plot targeting the state.

The locals spotted large packages tied to flotation drums drifting around 30km offshore on 6 November. Officers from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Western Australia Police collected the bundles later that day near Lancelin, roughly 125km north of Perth.

Authorities estimate the recovered cocaine could have been divided into more than 2.6 million street deals, with a potential street value exceeding $170 million.

Forensic testing is ongoing to determine the exact weight and purity of the drugs. Investigators allege the shipment was dumped from an international livestock carrier en route to Fremantle Harbour.

On 7 November 2025, the 46-year-old Croatian chief officer of the vessel was charged with attempting to import a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug.

During the search, police found a blue drum and ropes similar to those attached to the recovered packages.

Officers also allege that sections of the ship’s rails were removed and replaced without proper permits and that a CCTV camera had been deliberately covered during the suspected offloading.

The chief officer remains in custody and is scheduled to appear at Perth Magistrates Court on 23 January 2026. The offence carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

A 52-year-old man from Perth and two men from Sydney, aged 19 and 36, have also been charged for allegedly attempting to recover the cocaine from the ocean.

Emergency services responded on 3 November to a boat in distress off Guilderton, where the two Sydney men were found onboard a vessel taking on water and brought ashore safely.

Police said inconsistencies in their account led to further investigations, which eventually identified the Perth man.

Authorities allege all three launched boats from the Two Rocks boat ramp on multiple occasions to retrieve the floating cocaine. The Perth man was charged on 6 November under Western Australian drug legislation.

The Sydney men were arrested later in November, extradited to WA, and charged with possessing a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug, each facing a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Police confirmed that inquiries into the wider organised crime network behind the import attempt remain ongoing, with further arrests expected.

Officials highlighted the importance of multi-agency cooperation, intelligence sharing with international partners, and continuous monitoring of vessels entering Australian waters to disrupt criminal activity.

Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious packages found in the ocean or washed up along the WA coastline.

Police warned that opening or taking possession of such packages could be an offence. Anyone with relevant information is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Reference: AFP