Underworld Kingpin Mokbel Avoids Return to Prison
Drug kingpin Tony Mokbel has been sentenced to time already served after losing an attempt to overturn one of his convictions. The Victorian Court of Appeal ruled that Mokbel will not serve additional time for trafficking 41kg of methamphetamine while on the run.
Sixty-year-old Mokbel appeared relieved and shared a passionate kiss with his girlfriend following the court's decision on Thursday.
Background of the Case
Mokbel sought to have his 2006 drug trafficking conviction quashed, arguing that his case was compromised by Nicola Gobbo, a barrister-turned-informer. However, the court dismissed his appeal in October. The charge, part of a police operation called Magnum, was upheld.
Sentencing Details
Justices Stephen McLeish, Maree Kennedy, and Stephen Kaye re-sentenced Mokbel to 13 years, seven months, and 15 days in prison—a term he has already served.
Justice McLeish stated, "While the offending was serious and flagrant, Mokbel's unusual circumstances warranted the more modest sentence."
Criminal Activities and Capture
- Mokbel committed the Magnum offenses between July 2006 and June 2007 while evading other charges.
- He trafficked over 41kg of methamphetamine, generating revenue of approximately $4 million.
- During this time, he hid in regional Victoria and Greece.
- Mokbel was arrested and extradited to Melbourne in 2008.
In 2011, he pleaded guilty to the Magnum offense along with two other drug charges. He successfully appealed the other two convictions earlier in 2025.
Author’s Summary
Tony Mokbel’s re-sentencing to time served highlights the court’s balance between the serious drug offenses and his unique legal circumstances, avoiding further incarceration.