Alleged Australian Drug Boss Arrested In Thailand

[sriracha john]

Alleged Melbourne drug boss linked to Tony Mokbel

An alleged Melbourne drug boss linked to the supergrass who helped nab Tony Mokbel has been arrested in Thailand. Shanu Krawiec has been charged with conspiring with the supergrass to import large amounts of cocaine into Australia.

He is one of several Australians charged during a three-year investigation, which police claim smashed the global cocaine smuggling syndicate allegedly run by the supergrass from Amsterdam. Another of the men arrested during the Australian Federal Police investigation died on December 15, only days after his first appearance in Melbourne Magistrates' Court on a drug possession charge. Jason Barnsley, 31, died of a suspected drug overdose in his Melbourne home while on bail awaiting trial over his alleged role in the supergrass's gang.

The Herald Sun revealed in December that the fugitive supergrass had been arrested in the Netherlands three years after fleeing his Melbourne home in fear of his life. The recent arrest of Mr Krawiec, 40, has allegedly shut down the Bangkok end of the supergrass's worldwide operation. Thai police played a major role in tracking down and arresting Mr Krawiec for the AFP on January 24.

He and the supergrass have both been charged with conspiring to import commercial quantities of cocaine into Australia. The cocaine-smuggling syndicate was allegedly operating out of the Netherlands sending drugs to Australia, Canada, Thailand and other countries. AFP intelligence suggests that the gang specialised in getting drug couriers to hide cocaine in their bodies, often inside condoms.

The arrest of Mr Krawiec has enabled the Herald Sun to reveal today the names of others arrested during the investigation. Their names, other than that of Julian Cazabon, had not been released to help prevent Mr Krawiec finding out he was under investigation.

Also arrested over their alleged roles in the cocaine gang were:

Canberra-based Mr Cazabon, 37, who police will allege was one of the drug syndicate kingpins and who has been charged with conspiring to import cocaine into Australia.

Karl Macpherson, 34, who is on bail after being arrested by the AFP during a raid on a Melbourne house and charged with possession of drugs.

Michael McGrath, who has Australian and Canadian citizenship, and was arrested in Canada and charged with exporting illegal drugs.

Ben Roberts, 33, a Melbourne man who is on bail after having been charged with dealing with the proceeds of crime.

Mr Barnsley, Mr Cazabon, Mr Macpherson, Mr McGrath and Mr Roberts were all arrested between September last year and January this year, but the Herald Sun agreed not to publish details about them so as not to jeopardise the hunt for Mr Krawiec.

Mr Cazabon has been extradited from Canberra to Melbourne and is in custody awaiting trial.

The supergrass, who is the only alleged syndicate member whose name remains suppressed, secretly taped crime boss Tony Mokbel for police. He was also instrumental in getting Victoria's drug squad scrapped in 2001. Evidence gathered by him was crucial to the convictions of two corrupt members of the squad.

The supergrass fled overseas from Melbourne in May 2004 when underworld figures put a $1 million bounty on his head after discovering he was a police informer.

- Melbourne Herald Sun

[Zpete]

Wot I mean, PING, if ya read this.

Australians are Ockors

[jingjoe]

Australians are Ockors

Okka's even

Edited February 4, 2008 by jingjoe