A Filipino national has been sentenced after importing 416kg of cocaine into South Australia – the largest seizure of the illicit drug in the state’s history.
A 48-year-old man was sentenced in the District Court of South Australia to 17 years in prison, the Australian Federal Police said today.
He will serve a non-parole period of nine years and six months.
In March 2022, the Australian Border Force searched a merchant vessel in Port Adelaide. During the search, ABF officers found evidence suggesting the vessel may have dropped a significant quantity of drugs at sea and alerted the AFP.
In March 2022, authorities discovered a 416kg haul of cocaine – worth an estimated $166 million – a “substantial distance” off the coast of the Yorke Peninsula, the AFP said at the time.
The seizure led to Operation Lithgow, a joint multi-agency investigation into the consignment.
Two Filipino nationals – who were crew members on an international bulk shipping carrier – were linked to the importation.
The pair were charged with one count of importing a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs, namely cocaine.
A 45-year-old man pleaded guilty in April. He is due to be sentenced in the District Court of South Australia in December.
A 48-year-old was sentenced today after pleading guilty in May.
"Transnational criminal syndicates will go to any extreme in their attempts to import harmful illicit substances into our country. We are here to remind them that they will be stopped, and they will be prosecuted," AFP Detective Superintendent Melinda Adam said.
"Cocaine is highly addictive and places significant pressure on the Australian healthcare system. Across Australia there were 1800 cocaine related hospitalisations in 2020-21 – almost five every day on average.
"By helping to stop illicit drugs from reaching our shores, we are also helping to keep our communities safe."
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