WA fishermen to help stop drug smugglers in world's largest single policing jurisdiction
Up to 500 commercial fishing boats will help Western Australian Police protect the state's vast and vulnerable coastal borders from drug traffickers and criminals.
WA fishermen played a crucial role earlier this month in a huge $1billion drug seizure allegedly on a yacht which shipwrecked on islands 60 kilometres west of Geraldton.
Police praised local fishermen for spotting the stricken 15-metre vessel and helping track two foreign nationals who allegedly fled the yacht and tried to hide one tonne of cocaine, ecstasy and methamphetamine.
The yacht named Zero sits abandoned and stranded on a reef. An international investigation has been launched into the vessel's alleged cargo of illicit drugs worth $1 billion. Supplied
On Monday, WA Police formally partnered with the WA Fishing Industry Council to report suspicious movements and drug trafficking efforts at sea.
WA is the largest single policing jurisdiction in the world and includes almost 13,000km of mainland coastline. There are about 500 commercial fishing boats operating across the WA coast.
Participating commercial vessels will have a direct line to the WA police command centre to report unusual activity or vessels.
"Our fishing people know their ocean like others know their lounge rooms," WA Fishing Industry Council chairman Dr Ron Edwards said.
9News
The $1billion seizure of drugs on the Abrolhos islands was described by authorities as "colossal".
A French and British citizen were arrested on a nearby island, where police allege the pair tried to camouflage 40 large bags of illicit drugs under piles of seaweed.
The men allegedly tried to flee the island but were blocked by a huge seal, Geraldton volunteer marine rescue service vice commander Damien Healy told ABC radio.
"They woke it up and it jumped up with its big chest out and bellowed at them," Healy said.
"The guys basically had the choice of going through the seal or getting arrested and they ended up choosing getting arrested."
An aerial view of the island where police allege they found the British and French national and one-tonne of cocaine, ecstasy and methamphetamine. Supplied
Police allege they discovered 40 bags containing cocaine, ecstasy and methamphetamine hidden under seaweed. Supplied
Days later three other men were arrested in Perth, in an investigation that involves the US Drug Enforcement Agency and the UK's National Crime Agency.
At a media briefing, WA Police Force Commissioner Chris Dawson called the seizure an "important interdiction" likely involving a transnational narcotics syndicate.
Nine.com.au last week exclusively reported that an anonymous Cook Islands trust was the registered owner of the stricken yacht, a single-masted vessel called Zero.
The five accused will appear in a Perth court in November.
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