Record Cocaine Haul Lands Filipino National in Jail

Global Operations

Posted by AI on 2025-09-22 01:47:53 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-12-13 01:13:55

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In a landmark case, a 48-year-old Filipino national has been sentenced to 17 years behind bars, becoming the first person to face justice for South Australia's largest-ever cocaine seizure. The man's imprisonment marks the culmination of a multi-agency operation that began with a routine search and ended with the recovery of a staggering 416kg of cocaine, valued at over $166 million.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) took the lead in this operation after the Australian Border Force (ABF) searched a merchant vessel in Port Adelaide in 2022. Their vigilance paid off when they discovered evidence of a potential drug drop at sea. This crucial intelligence kick-started a collaborative effort under Operation Lithgow, involving the AFP, ABF, South Australia Police (SAPOL), Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), and the Department of Home Affairs.

The investigation led authorities to the Yorke Peninsula, where they recovered the massive cocaine haul in March 2022. Two Filipino crew members were charged with importing a commercial quantity of cocaine. The first, aged 45, pleaded guilty in April 2025 and awaits sentencing in December. The second, the 48-year-old, also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 17 years, with a non-parole period of nine and a half years.

This successful operation underscores the effectiveness of inter-agency collaboration in combating transnational crime. As Detective Superintendent Melinda Adam of the AFP emphasized, "Transnational criminal syndicates will go to extremes, but we are committed to stopping them." With this significant seizure and the subsequent convictions, Australian law enforcement has sent a powerful message: those who attempt to flood the country with illicit drugs will face the full force of the law.

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