Coke on the rocks: alleged Melbourne organised crime syndicate beset by disorganisation

By Nino Bucci
Updated January 19 2017 - 1:14pm, first published 12:59pm
HMAS Adelaide escorts the former Japanese whaling vessel towards Hobart in December. Photo: LSIS Sarah Williams
HMAS Adelaide escorts the former Japanese whaling vessel towards Hobart in December. Photo: LSIS Sarah Williams
Police lead members of the former whaling vessel's crew away at Hobart in December. Photo: Australian Federal Police
Police lead members of the former whaling vessel's crew away at Hobart in December. Photo: Australian Federal Police
Cocaine found on the former whaling vessel in December. Photo: Australian Federal Police
Cocaine found on the former whaling vessel in December. Photo: Australian Federal Police
Some of the drugs had images of camels walking through the desert fixed on them. Photo: Australian Federal Police
Some of the drugs had images of camels walking through the desert fixed on them. Photo: Australian Federal Police
One of the boats that police allege the syndicate planned to use to meet the former whaling vessel. Photo: Australian Federal Police
One of the boats that police allege the syndicate planned to use to meet the former whaling vessel. Photo: Australian Federal Police
Police arrest a man in Melbourne on Wednesday in relation to the alleged cocaine importation and distribution operation. Photo: Australian Federal Police
Police arrest a man in Melbourne on Wednesday in relation to the alleged cocaine importation and distribution operation. Photo: Australian Federal Police
A sketch of (from left) Omer Tok, Christopher Peroulis, Youssif Tawfik and Mohamed Kaddour, made during their appearance in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday.  Photo: Jeff Hayes
A sketch of (from left) Omer Tok, Christopher Peroulis, Youssif Tawfik and Mohamed Kaddour, made during their appearance in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Photo: Jeff Hayes
A boat allegedly used by the syndicate after it ran aground at Port Fairy Photo: Rob Gunstone
A boat allegedly used by the syndicate after it ran aground at Port Fairy Photo: Rob Gunstone

It appeared the work of a significant organised crime syndicate: get a former Japanese whaling boat, with a mostly Chinese crew, to sail with more than 180 kilograms of South American cocaine, to a rendezvous point hundreds of kilometres off the coast of Port Fairy.

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