Four men arrested over biggest cocaine haul in South Australian history face court
Four men arrested over a cocaine haul worth $250m faced court this morning via video link and did not apply for bail.
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Four Filipino men charged over the biggest cocaine bust in South Australian history, estimated to have a street value of $250m, have faced court.
Ian Gelan Dizon, Alcris Dente Mabini, Mark Torrenueva Enriquez and Angelito Devalaque Balansag were charged with importing or exporting a border control drug or plant.
The accused – all sailors – appeared in the Port Adelaide magistrates Court on Friday morning via video link and did not apply for bail.
They will appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court again in April. All defence lawyers asked magistrate Jayanthi Pandya for an interpreter for their clients at their next appearance.
On Thursday afternoon, heavily-armed police guarded the 416kg haul during a media conference at the Australian Federal Police (AFP) headquarters at Adelaide Airport.
AFP Assistant Commissioner Peter Harvey said the cocaine was found in waters off Yorke Peninsula on March 21.
He said the discovery was just under half of the total amount of cocaine seized across Australia last year.
“In recent years this represents, according to last year’s data, almost just under half of the total cocaine seized in Australia, this is significant,” he said.
“We have one of the highest per capita uses of cocaine in the world.”
Those arrested are understood to be crew members of a bulk carrier, Kypros Bravery, which was used to transport the cocaine.
Maritime records show the seven-year-old vessel is registered in Cyprus and sailed from Ninghbo, China, on February 24, arriving in SA on March 14.
Mr Harvey said the drugs were dumped several nautical miles off the Yorke Peninsula on March 15 at a “predetermined location”, before Australian Border Force crews found the cocaine during an “arduous and methodical” search on March 21.
He said the drugs had a street value of more than $250m.
“The estimated wholesale value of the drug shipment and all that you see before you is in round figures $166 million wholesale,” he said.
“But stretched out through the typical profit making process of organised crime, it’s probably worth about $250 million on the street.
“It’s a significant piece of seizure and drugs that were destined for Australia.”
Mr Harvey said he had one clear message for anyone involved in organised crime.
“We’re coming, it should’ve been a warning ages ago through (Operation) Ironside that, in this state, there are no free kicks,” he said.
Mr Harvey was not able to provide details on exactly where the ship came from, who was destined to receive the drugs, what they were packed in and how they were found for operational reasons.
The seizure was part of a lengthy investigation into trans-national organised crime operations.
“They are just crooks, they have been outsmarted,” said Mr Harvey.
“They sit around a pool, drink martinis and drive fast cars while you work every single day.”
The arrests were part of Operation Lithgow, which involved the AFP, ABF and SA Police.
Mr Harvey said the ongoing operation had no link to Operation Ironside.
He said the Kypros Bravery had a total of 20 crew, with further arrests possible.
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