Ship's crew charged over suspected one-tonne cocaine import off Australia's east coast

A search warrant was also executed on the ship's crew at Villawood Immigration Detention Centre where a number of items of clothing were seized for forensic examination.

Further evidence seized has allegedly linked six members of the ship's crew to at least one drop-off of drugs within Australia's territorial waters.

On Saturday, March 28, AFP officers arrested and charged: five Honduran men between the ages of 26 and 63 and a 43-year-old Ecuadorian man.

The group was charged with conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs, contrary to section 307.1 (by virtue of section 11.1) of the Criminal Code. The maximum penalty for this offence is life imprisonment.

The men are expected to appear before the NSW Bail Division Courts on Monday, March 30.

Inquiries into this matter remain ongoing.