Nine men, including prominent horse racing figures Grant Dalziel, his son Peter, and former jockey Brian Park, were arrested in Victoria over a sophisticated plot to smuggle over a billion dollars worth of cocaine into the state. The Federal Police operation followed the sinking of a boat in Bass Strait believed to be involved in the scheme, which used fishing boats and a “mother ship” with smaller “daughter vessels” to transport up to 3.5 tonnes of cocaine. The investigation began after four people were rescued from a vessel in dangerous conditions, leading to a 10-month probe and multiple raids across Victoria.

The accused, aged between 31 and 72, face a combined 38 charges, with seven potentially facing life imprisonment if convicted. The arrests highlight how organized crime can infiltrate respected industries, as noted by former AFP Detective Superintendent David Craig. Eight men were arrested in Victoria and one in Sydney, with five currently in custody and others released on bail. The accused are due to appear again in Melbourne Magistrates Court in July.