The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has charged two senior crew members from a bulk cargo carrier for their alleged roles in the importation of around 850kg of cocaine into Australia.
The men – the vessel’s master and chief engineer, both from Montenegro – faced the Perth Magistrates Court on Friday and were charged with importing a commercial quantity of cocaine. They face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if convicted.
Media reports from both Australia and Montenegro identified the master as Milan Begović and the chief engineer as Radovan Vujičić which were posted on the bulk cargo carrier ST Pinot.
Police claimed that the pair knew the cocaine was hidden onboard the cargo carrier and planned to drop it overboard off the Fremantle coast to be collected by another group. The master allegedly instructed other crew members to alter the vessel’s course as it neared Fremantle Port to rendezvous with another vessel.
According to the AFP, they planned to meet with a cabin cruiser named No Fixed Address, but the planned exchange failed.
The men allegedly attempted to conceal the drugs by filling the 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.
Following the arrest, a replacement master and chief engineer have been brought onto the cargo carrier.
The drugs were found after a joint agency investigation. Police arrested three men who had been travelling on the cabin cruiser and charged them for their alleged involvement in the attempted import.
Bulk cargo carrier master and chief engineer charged in 850kg cocaine bust
