$250M DRUG HAUL: FIVE FACE COURT

Three Colombians and two United States citizens were remanded in custody
yesterday after being arrested on Friday in what is described as
Australia's biggest cocaine seizure.

The suspects were remanded to appear in the Perth Court of Petty Sessions
next Friday. They include Carlos Suarez-Mejia, 31, Fernando De La Espriella
Vel, 32, and Joaquim Eduardo Lalinde-Echeverri, 43, all of Colombia, and
Joel Parrish, 46, and William Roger Reaves, 58, of the US.

Justice Minister Chris Ellison said an estimated tonne of cocaine worth
$250 million on the streets was seized after a two-month operation
involving Australian Federal Police, customs and WA police.

He said after Federal Police received a tip-off, they watched two men
travelling from Perth to Geraldton, allegedly in preparation for the
arrival of the drugs. Coastwatch and customs aircraft monitored a 30-metre
converted fishing boat as it approached the WA coast.

The seizure took place at Dulverton Bay, about 700 kilometres north of
Perth. The drugs were allegedly found buried on a beach after being
offloaded from the mother ship.