Why John Ibrahim didn’t want to be around Michael’s dodgy deals

The undercover operative who took down the brother of nightclub boss John Ibrahim couldn’t land a glove on the “King of the Cross”. The agent had used Michael to infiltrate the Ibrahim inner circle, but John wanted nothing to do with him.

• How undercover agent brought down an Ibrahim
• Exclusive transcripts: The Ibrahim tapes

He tried, but the undercover operative couldn’t land a glove on John Ibrahim.

John was at several meetings — and one memorable holiday in Thailand — where his younger brother Michael planned drug and cigarette imports with the undercover operative who was covertly recording the conversations.

But the retired nightclub boss didn’t participate in the conversations and there is no suggestions he was involved in any criminal activity.

Michael even told family confidant Margaret Staltaro he had to go to “John’s” to borrow $15,000 on the night he handed over $1.12 million to pay for a drug shipment on May 26, 2017, according to documents tendered to court.

John Ibrahim was present at several meetings where his younger brother Michael and the undercover operative discussed drug and cigarette imports. But he did not participate in the conversations and there is no suggestion he was involved in any criminal activity.

THE IBRAHIM TAPES: READ THE TRANSCRIPTS

‘YOU’VE EMBARRASSED ME IN FRONT OF THESE GUYS’

‘WHY AREN’T YOUSE DOING F**KING RACK AND SH*T?’

‘WE’RE LOOKING AT 20 YEARS JAIL, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN’

PARTYING IN THAILAND WITH THE IBRAHIM FAMILY

John Ibrahim is famously suspicious of everyone outside his close-knit circle and has previously railed against “dogs and informants”.

In his 2017 memoir John wrote of his frustration at Michael calling him from a potentially bugged phone given to him by a police informant in the period after their brother Fadi was shot in 2009.

“Michael confirms it’s a mobile phone and I yell at him, ‘How many times have I told you? Don’t call me on a mobile phone’,” John wrote on page 325.

The first contact the undercover operative had with John was at Double Bay restaurant 21 Espresso on November 18, 2016.

Michael and the undercover were meeting Ryan Watsford at the eatery to discuss importing more cigarettes and the potential for smuggling drugs.

Unbeknown to the Ibrahim clan, they were joined on a “boys only” Thailand holiday by the undercover operative.

THE IBRAHIM TAPES: READ THE TRANSCRIPTS

HOW DEAL OVER SMUGGLED CIGARETTES TURNED UGLY

‘FOOLPROOF’ METHOD OF IMPORTING DRUGS INTO COUNTRY

‘I’VE GOT 50 KEGS OF COCAINE IN LEBANON READY’

After they had finished talking business, John arrived at the meeting wearing a grey singlet and denim elastic pants. He was also wearing white headphones.

John and the undercover crossed paths 10 days later during a holiday for the Ibrahims and their friends at the luxury Thailand Villa Baan Santisuk.

During the holiday, Michael and the undercover operative discussed more cigarette and drug business.

Michael told the undercover he got a thrill from the “shifty” sales of illegal cigarettes.

The undercover saw little of John and later spoke of how the nightclub boss was bed ridden with sickness.

Dissecting the holiday with Watsford in December 2016, the undercover said “John was, he was sick … so he was out but I didn’t see him much.”

Watsford said: “He got really bad food poisoning.”

John Ibrahim with his confidante Margaret Staltaro. Picture: Facebook

Another encounter occurred at a Rose Bay eatery where Michael, Watsford and the undercover convened for lunch and to discuss cigarette and drug imports.

John arrived but left soon after, taking Michael with him. The undercover then asked Watsford: “Is he all good?”.

The undercover operative then theorised about John’s departure: “I thought when he said ‘Up to no good’, he might not want to be around it.”

Watsford brushed it off: “Nah, he’s just joking around.”

Watsford told the undercover he was initially friends with John but became “tight” with Michael before remarking on the Kings Cross identity’s financial well being.

“He’s retired, he doesn’t need money,” Watsford said.

Originally published as Why John Ibrahim didn’t want to be around Michael’s dodgy deals