<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Three men have been sentenced to a combined 29 years and six months in prison after a botched drug importation plot that saw a drug-filled luxury sports cruiser sink off the Western Australian coast.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The trio saw their drug operation unravel spectacularly after their vessel, loaded with more than 300kg of cocaine, capsized in rough seas near Albany in February 2023. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Western Australian men, aged 38, 47, and 51, were sentenced yesterday in the Perth District Court after pleading guilty to importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug. </span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/kill-crew-trio-charged-with-kidnapping-and-murdering-alleged-drug-syndicate-members-wife/95a87355-f90b-494e-8a7c-af264c627225" rel="" target="" title="Alleged 'kill crew' trio charged with murdering Sydney woman"><strong><span>Alleged 'kill crew' trio charged with murdering Sydney woman</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Their dramatic downfall was first mistaken for a simple fishing accident, kicking off a police investigation that quickly uncovered one of the state's most brazen drug smuggling attempts.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The initial investigation began with a rescue. Western Australia Police officers helped pull the men from the ocean off Albany, but their claim of merely being on a fishing trip after their vessel capsized raised immediate suspicion. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police alerted the Australian Federal Police (AFP), and soon after, the full story began to surface. </span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/drugsmuggling-trio-jailed-after-capsizing-cruiser-with-100-million-haul/86705c88-9885-40b9-a465-51a7b17313f6" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A week later, a wrapped package of cocaine washed ashore near Denmark,  about 55km west of Albany.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The seven-metre sports cruiser, named Aces and Eights, was then discovered overturned off Peaceful Bay.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>AFP officers boarded the wreck and discovered a massive haul: 273 packages containing approximately 274kg of a white substance. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Forensic testing confirmed it was cocaine with a pure weight of 229.17kg. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Authorities believe the drugs had been collected from the ocean before the vessel was overcome by rough waters on the journey back to shore.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Following the drug confirmation, warrants were issued for the men's arrests. The 38-year-old was quickly apprehended in Darwin. The 47-year-old was arrested in Perth's north-eastern suburbs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The third man, the registered owner of the sunken cruiser, evaded police for six weeks. The manhunt ended when AFP specialist officers found him hidden in a secret compartment underneath a spa at a home in Byford. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At the time of his arrest, he had a loaded gun in a bag beside him.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The 51-year-old was sentenced to 12 years and three months' imprisonment, the 38-year-old was given a nine-year and three-month sentence, and the 47-year-old eight years.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>AFP Acting Commander Murray Taylor praised the collaborative effort that led to the convictions, acknowledging the crucial role played by people in the region.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This investigation involved many long days and nights to obtain evidence related to this matter and bring these three men before the courts," Acting Commander Taylor said. "The community also played a massive role, especially in WA's Great Southern region, and the AFP cannot thank them enough for their assistance."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He stressed the impact of the seizure. "We believe this amount of cocaine would have been distributed across Australia, not just in WA, and in turn, negatively impacted thousands of lives."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>For free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drug treatment services call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015. You can also access free 24/7 drug and alcohol counselling online.</span></strong></em></div></div>