The Associated Press
CANBERRA, Australia — Police arrested four Spaniards in one of Australia's largest cocaine seizures, authorites said Monday.
About 660 pounds (300 kilograms) of the illegal drug were seized from a yacht on Friday at the northeastern coastal town of Bundaberg, Australian Federal Police said in a statement. The yacht was crewed by a 35-year-old man and 37-year-old woman, and both were arrested.
Another two Spanish nationals — a 38-year-old man who lives in Sydney and 39-year-old man living in Gold Coast city — were also arrested in Bundaberg, where they were alleged to be collecting the cocaine.
Police have also seized more than 3 million Australian dollars ($3.1 million) in cash using search warrants in Bundaberg, Gold Coast and Sydney.
The four Spanish nationals cannot be named for legal reasons. They will appear in a Bundaberg court Monday charged with importing cocaine and they each face a potential life prison sentence if convicted.
Police said the haul was the fifth-largest cocaine seizure in Australian history. The drug was valued at up to $80 million.
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November 14, 2011 01:10 AM EST
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