Police arrested Graham Kurt Palmer, 34, along with a 51-year-old French national after receiving call about grounded yacht

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

About one tonne of illicit drugs has been found on a Western Australian island after a yacht ran aground on a reef, with a British man and a French national charged over the massive seizure.

Members of the public on Monday told police about the stricken vessel named Zero near Stick Island, which is part of the Houtman Abrolhos archipelago west of Geraldton, and the unusual movements of its crew.

Police said they found French man Antoine Robert Dicenta, 51, and British man Graham Kurt Palmer, 34, about seven kilometres away on Burton Island on Tuesday.

They had allegedly travelled there using an inflatable dinghy, powered by an outboard motor, and had paddles.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest About 40 bags of illicit drugs concealed under seaweed were found on a Western Australian island. Photograph: WA Police/AAP

About 40 seaweed-covered bags containing up to one tonne of suspected illicit drugs were found on the island, with preliminary tests indicating they included cocaine and ecstasy.

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The pair faced Geraldton magistrates court on Thursday and were remanded in custody to appear again on 20 September.

The WA police commissioner Chris Dawson said the men allegedly sailed across the Indian Ocean, but work continued with international authorities to confirm where they came from.

“The fishing community of Geraldton played a significant role in this detection and seizure and maintained regular contact with police as this matter unfolded,” Mr Dawson said.

“These people have helped protect Western Australia’s borders on this occasion and we are grateful for their efforts.”