36-year-old Aristides Avlonitis is among three men wanted by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) after about 365 kilograms of cocaine was found off Western Australia’s south coast.
According to The Guardian, Avlonitis, along with Mate Stipinovich, 49, and Karl Whitburn, 45, were found clinging to an esky in the ocean off Albany on February 1, telling authorities their boat had capsized while they were fishing.
Six days later, a black package containing multiple packages of cocaine washed ashore near Denmark, 423 kilometres south-east of Perth.
The AFP said a seven-metre boat was also found overturned off Peaceful Bay the following day with more cocaine inside.
Police suspect the shipment was collected from the ocean and don’t believe the story about the men’s boat capsizing, Nine News has reported.
The AFP are now seeking public assistance to locate Stipinovich, Whitburn and Avlonitis, who is believed to be in the Northern Territory.
AFP acting commander Graeme Marshall urged the three men to contact police.
Source: The Guardian and Nine News.
