Australia Accuses Master and Chief Engineer of Smuggling Cocaine in Ship’s Ballast Tank

The Australian Federal Police has charged the Master and Chief engineer of bulk cargo carrier for their alleged roles in the smuggling of nearly a ton of cocaine into Western Australia.

The pair allegedly hid the cocaine inside a ballast tank of the Marshall Islands-flagged St. Pinot, and had planned to drop it overboard off the Fremantle coast to be collected by other smugglers.

Prosecutors allege the master instructed other crew members to alter the vessel’s course as it neared Fremantle Port, WA in May to rendezvous with a cabin cruiser named No Fixed Address, but the exchange apparently failed when the cruiser broke down.

Authorities happened to be investigating inbound vessels in the area when they responded to a distress call from the No Fixed Address. Law enforcement officers became suspicious upon discovering the vessel had been purchased only a day earlier in cash and the three men on board provided conflicting information.

Following an investigation, police discovered 849.5 kilograms in the ballast tank of the St. Pinot after a joint agency search of the vessel.

Prosecutors allege the Master and Chief Engineer tried filling the ship’s ballast tank that the drugs were hidden in with water and instructed members of the crew to backdate logs and provide false information to shipping agent authorities.

The two suspects, both from Montenegro, were due in court Friday to be charged with importing cocaine into Australia, which is a violation of section 307.1(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth). If convicted, they could face life imprisonment.

Police arrested three men on board the cabin cruiser, aged 21, 25 and 29, and charged them for their involvement.

AFP Assistant Commissioner Pryce Scanlan praised the agency for working tirelessly with partners to track down and prosecute transnational organized crimes.

“These individuals allegedly went to great lengths to hide their illegal activities from law enforcement and other authorities but the AFP and its partners are committed to stopping the supply of harmful drugs from reaching the Australian community,” said Assistant Commissioner Scanlan said.

Cocaine shipments are being seized at Australia’s border at record levels, according to Australian Border Force Commander Operations West, Ranjeev Maharaj. “We will continue to deter, detect and disrupt those who seek to import harmful drugs into Australia,” he said.

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