Tony Mokbel

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.^[3]

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 known associate of Mick Gatto, Deniz Bjelogrlic was told that Veniamin and Mokbel became close allies. Nik 'The Russian' Radev was the next underworld identity to perish.

He 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]

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 convicted 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.

On June 6, 2007, it was announced that Mokbel had been arrested in a café while having his hot chocolate in an Athens cafe.

Mokbel is vowing to make every effort to avoid extradition to Australia. He has unsuccessfully made applications in Australia to cancel the Australian extradition attempt.

Lebanese authorities have foreshadowed making their own extradition request to the Greek courts. It is not known how Mokbel could have committed any significant crime that could be tried in or on behalf of Lebanon. It is alleged by Australian authorities that Lebanon's extradition machinations are actually an attempt to free Mokbel, and as such an abuse of power by the relevant Lebanese authorities.

Greek authorities have indicated the serious nature of the charges to be faced in Australia would see extradition to Australia take priority over Greek prosecution of lesser fraud and corruption charges.

On March 18 2008, the Supreme Court in Athens granted Australia's request for his extradition. Greece's justice minister is yet to make a final decision on the matter.^[16]