Antonios Sajih 'Tony' Mokbel (b. August 8, 1965) is a convicted drug trafficker from Melbourne, Australia, who was a fugitive until his recapture in Greece on June 5, 2007. Detectives from Operation Purana allege that he is the mastermind behind the Melbourne amphetamines trade. He has been linked to Carl Williams, as well as the killing of several victims of the Melbourne gangland war. He disappeared from Melbourne while on trial in March 2006, and was arrested by Greek police in Athens, Greece on June 5, 2007. [1] Prior to his arrest, there was a $1 million bounty for information leading to his capture.[2] According to Victoria Police, this reward still stands.
It has been alleged that in late 2002 there was a meeting of more than 10 organised criminals in Carlton. At that meeting it is said that Mokbel was nearly beaten to death by Nik 'The Russian' Radev's bodyguard, West Australian Coffin Cheater Troy Mercanti. [4] Andrew 'Benji' Veniamin was ordered by his then close associate, Dominic 'Mick' Gatto, to take Mokbel to a friendly doctor. In the following couple of weeks Veniamin and Mokbel became close allies. Nik 'The Russian' Radev was the next underworld identity to perish.
Mokbel was reported to have paid convicted murderer, Keith Faure, $150,000 for the murder of Lewis Moran, the 23rd victim of the Melbourne gangland killings. [5] Mokbel has been investigated by Operation Purana.
He has also been charged with the murder of drug syndicate patriarch Lewis Moran, who was gunned down in 2004 in the front bar of the Brunswick Club in Sydney Road, Brunswick. [6]
[edit] Trial and disappearance
Mokbel was on trial over allegations that he imported cocaine from Mexico City. After expressing concerns for his safety, Mokbel went missing during his trial on 20 March 2006. [7] Police believe that Mokbel fled Australia with one of several fake passports, and that he transferred up to 20 million dollars into offshore accounts. He was reportedly tipped off by lawyer Zarah_Garde-Wilson. -[8]
He was convicted (in his absence) and was sentenced to twelve years jail. [9] [10]
In March 2007, Australian Labor Party MP Kelvin Thomson resigned as Shadow Attorney-General on the Opposition front bench after it was revealed that he had written a character reference for Mokbel to assist his application for a liquor licence in 2001. [11] [12]
Tony Mokbel's sister in law was convicted and sentenced to prison for failing to pay his 1 million dollar bail fee, as he had broken his bail conditions by fleeing Australia before he was convited on drug importation charges.[13] [14]
On 27 May 2007, it was reported through underworld sources that Mokbel was involved in a gunfight in Northern Lebanon, which he survived. [15] It is believed that Mokbel was tracked down by former friends of his who lost money in one of Mokbel's business ventures shortly before he disappeared last year to escape a gaol conviction for the importation of cocaine, as well as to avoid being charged with the murder of underworld figure Lewis Moran.
[edit] Arrest in Greece
On the evening of June 5, 2007, a Victoria Police spokesman announced that they had received information that Mokbel had been arrested and taken into custody by Greek authorities, but did not give any details of when and where he was arrested. [16] [17]
On June 6, 2007, it was announced that Mokbel had been arrested in a café in Athens. [1] At the time of his arrest, his appearance and physical features had changed significantly to when he went missing, wearing a brown wig and having grown a beard. Mokbel was found carrying a fake Australian passport and driver's license in the name of Stephen Papas. Doctors later extracted over half a kilogram in cocaine from 50 satchels inserted in his rectum.[18] Extradition back to Australia will take several weeks, or even years if he appeals. [19]
On the same night Mokbel was arrested, police carried out a raid on an underworld gang calling themselves 'The company'. 14 other underworld figures were arrested in Melbourne. Drugs, weapons and $790,000 in cash were seized. [20]
