Police arrest Mate Stipinovich, allegedly found hiding under spa with loaded gun

The man was allegedly found hiding in a secret compartment under a spa on the back patio of a property.

A former Rebels bikie nominee has been arrested for alleged cocaine importation after tipping off police by ordering Uber Eats under his own name.

Mate Stipinovich, 49, was found on Wednesday evening allegedly hiding in a secret compartment under a spa on the back patio of a West Australian property, bringing a six-week manhunt to a close.

Police allege he had a loaded gun in a bag beside him when he was discovered.

AFP officers arrested the 49-year-old at a Byford property on Wednesday. Picture: AFP

Neighbours reportedly heard police officers on a loudspeaker trying to communicate with those inside the house.

“I could hear one of the officers saying ‘we know you ordered Uber Eats, we know you’re in there’,” the resident told The West Australian.

“We heard them (the police) telling everyone (the neighbours) to stay in your lounge rooms and keep away from your windows.”

Mr Stipinovich is now the third man to be charged over the importation of more than 300kg of cocaine into Western Australia and is set to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday.

He has been charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, for which he could face life imprisonment if convicted.

Police sat they found him in a secret compartment under a spa on the back patio. Picture: AFP

The AFP’s six-week search for Mr Stipinovich began in late February after police found several packages of cocaine in an overturned boat in the waters off WA’s Great Southern region.

Prior to its discovery, three men were rescued after they were found clinging to a floating Esky in the ocean off Albany, claiming they had been fishing when their boat overturned and sank.

Another bag of cocaine also washed ashore near Denmark one day before the overturned boat was discovered.

Police began searching for the men after the drugs were found, with a Perth Magistrate issuing warrants for their arrest.

The men were rescued from the waters off Albany on February 1, 2023, six days before police say packages of cocaine washed ashore in Denmark. Picture: AFP

Two of the men, Aristides Avlonitis, 36, and Karl Whitburn, 45, were subsequently arrested on February 15 at a rural Darwin home and on March 9 in Perth’s northeastern suburbs respectively.

All three of the men, one of whom allegedly owned the partially submerged cabin cruiser named Aces and Eights, have now been charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug.

One of the seized packages police say was found to contain cocaine. Picture: AFP

Mate Stipinovich was the last of the three men to be arrested. Picture: AFP

AFP Sergeant Kristen Swan said “the AFP’s investigation has not ended with the charging of these three men”.

“We continue to work with our partners to track down anyone involved in this importation,” she said.

“The AFP’s drug harm index estimates the seizure of this amount of cocaine has saved the community more than $190m in drug-related harm, including associated crime, healthcare and loss of productivity.”

Some of the bricks of cocaine police say were found wrapped within the packages. Picture: AFP

Investigations are ongoing into the location and method by which the drugs were dropped into the ocean prior to its alleged collection by the Aces and Eights crew.

AFP is also investigating individuals who may have helped Mr Stipinovich evade authorities for six weeks.

Originally published as Police arrest Mate Stipinovich, allegedly found hiding under spa with loaded gun