In a decisive legal conclusion, the Perth District Court has sentenced six individuals, including four Fijian nationals, for their involvement in a botched attempt to smuggle 2.4 tonnes of cocaine into Western Australia. The convicted men—Isaac Henry Rabuatoka, Filipe Valesu, Laban Saininaivalu, and William Seru—admitted their intentions to possess and distribute the narcotics.
Prosecutors depicted the attempted smuggling operation as a series of bungles, culminating in a police intervention in December 2022. Authorities, in partnership with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), executed a strategic sting operation. They strategically planted fake drug packages at Hillarys Boat Harbour, setting a trap for the traffickers.
The cocaine, originally intercepted by the DEA off the South American coast, was believed to be part of a Mexican cartel’s shipment headed to Australia. Australian authorities then ingeniously staged the scenario, deploying over a tonne of counterfeit packages into the ocean to ensnare those seeking the contraband.
Under surveillance, the Fijian nationals and their accomplices employed two vessels, “Catalina” and “Cool Runnings,” to retrieve the phony drugs. Chaos emerged when “Cool Runnings,” steered by Saininaivalu and Seru, ran aground near Moore River. Nearby civilians inadvertently became involved in attempts to refloat the vessel, laden with the sham drugs, providing an opportune moment for the police to swoop in and arrest the culprits.
Simultaneously, the “Catalina” faced its downfall after a failed towing attempt and a subsequent crash into a rock wall. The skipper, Paul Masterson, unable to board because of back pain, was later jailed for ten years, alongside Rabuatoka. William Seru received a six-year sentence while Laban Saininaivalu faced a five-year term.
Judge Linda Black criticized the men as “fools” who engaged in a plan that quickly exceeded their grasp. Prosecutor Michael Cvetkoski highlighted their role as “puppets,” manipulated by high-level operatives in the drug trade, now suffering severe repercussions for taking substantial risks.
This case mirrors ongoing struggles against the drug trade in the South Pacific, particularly in Fiji, where authorities have disrupted similar large-scale operations, such as a notable 4.15-tonne methamphetamine case, resulting in significant sentences. The stringent judicial responses in both regions reflect a shared resolve to deter drug trafficking, ensuring public safety and upholding the justice system’s integrity. These collaborative international efforts are essential in combating global organized crime.