Tamaohungia Joseph Tepatu-Edwards, a 31-year-old New Zealand man, has been sentenced to 26 years in prison for attempting to import over 800 kilograms of cocaine into Western Australia. His arrest was made possible when the boat he was on experienced mechanical issues near Rottnest Island, leading to the uncovering of a larger drug smuggling operation linked to a syndicate.

The cocaine was initially concealed in blue plastic and equipped with strobe lights, dropped from a bulk carrier named ST Pinot in May 2023. Tepatu-Edwards played a crucial role in the operation, assisting in the logistics of retrieving the drugs from the ocean. His sentencing requires him to serve at least 17 years before being eligible for parole, which also raises the potential issue of deportation back to New Zealand following his prison term.

This case underscores ongoing law enforcement efforts to combat drug trafficking in Australia, particularly concerning the importation of large quantities of narcotics from overseas. The significant prison sentence aims to deter similar activities and highlights the severity with which the Australian justice system treats serious drug offenses, especially those involving organized crime syndicates.