One of the men who was rescued while clinging to an Esky has been arrested in the Northern Territory over his alleged involvement in the sinking of a boat containing 365kg of cocaine.
Australian Federal Police on Thursday said Aristides Avlonitis had been arrested at a home in rural Darwin on Wednesday.
The 36-year-old appeared in a Darwin court on Thursday, where a request to have him extradited in Perth to face a charge of importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug was granted.
Police are still looking for the other two men who were rescued on the Esky off the WA coast on February 1.
The men told authorities their vessel had capsized while they were out fishing, but police suspicions grew as small packages of cocaine started washing up over the following days.
The capsized boat washed ashore near the coastal town of Denmark, about 423km south-southeast of Perth, on February 8, a week after three men were rescued clinging to an esky in waters off Albany.
Investigators are still looking assistance to locate two other – 45-year-old Karl Whitburn and 49-year-old Mate Stipinovich.
“We are also appealing for anyone else to call us if they have information to help us find the men, or know anything about this drug importation,” said AFP acting Commander Graeme Marshal.
“The interception of this amount of drugs would be a significant blow to a well-resourced syndicate and prevents millions of dollars of drug profit from flowing back into the group to fund their next criminal venture or lavish lifestyles.”