Shipping container death mystery: Latest theories on Troy Kellett’s fatal fall at Outer Harbor

There have been a number of theories floated into what led Troy Kellett to fall to his death from a shipping container at Outer Harbor. The latest may top them all.

A Victorian father who plunged to his death from a shipping container at an Adelaide cargo depot may have had links to the Albanian Mafia.

It is believed Troy Kellett, 43, was searching for drugs when he tragically fell 12m to his death in front of Serious and Organised Crime Branch detectives at Outer Harbor in the early hours of July 9.

Anonymous law enforcement agents have now revealed an investigation has been launched to see whether his search for drugs was linked to the Albanian mafia.

The site along Coghlan Rd in Outer Harbor where Victorian man Troy Kellett died after falling from shipping container. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Those sources told The Age that detectives were probing whether Mr Kellett was hired, directed or pressured to assist the mafia cell seeking to import narcotics into Australia.

The Advertiser is not suggesting that he was engaged in criminal activity.

It is just the latest of a number of theories regarding a police investigation that is currently clouded in mystery.

So what was Mr Kellett – the owner of a multimillion-dollar truck company – doing at the shipyard that night?

COCAINE AND ALBANIA

New details about Mr Kellett’s final days have emerged recently.

Troy Kellett died after falling several metres from a shipping container at Outer Harbor on Sunday. Picture: Supplied

It is understood authorities are investigating if the transport company boss, a father of four, was searching for a container of drugs amid speculation of a cocaine shipment. Now, the possibility of that cocaine shipment is being linked to the Albanian Mafia. The Age has been reporting in recent times the Albanian Mafia has successfully exploited holes in Australia’s border security and is now challenging bikie gangs for control of the country’s lucrative cocaine market. The possibility that Mr Kellett was liaising with these figures is one theory that has been floated by anonymous law enforcement agents and may have led him to the shipyard that night.

MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR WINDFALL

What was a man, who had just received an $8m windfall into his bank account, doing on top of a shipping container at Outer Harbor in the middle of the night?

Mr Kellett was in the process of selling his trucking business for more than $16m. Half the payment had arrived in his bank account less than 48 hours before his tragic death.

Norman Carriers, had a deal to buy Mr Kellett’s trucks and other assets for $8m. He was due to sign-off on the transfer of those assets Friday, July 7, but he never arrived at an arranged meeting.

“Whatever he was doing had to be pretty significant to turn down almost $16 million being in your bank account,” a friend said. Friends revealed he also skipped a close friend’s funeral to travel to Adelaide.

You could be excused for making the assumption that his trip to Adelaide had a lot at stake. Certainly more at stake than receiving a multimillion-dollar transfer or paying tribute to a friend who had passed.

MOKBEL AND GATTO

The Advertiser was first reveal that company records show Mr Kellett’s business was first established by a businessman whose clients included notorious drug kingpin Tony Mokbel.

The company was set up in January 1999 by Melbourne businessman Tom Kotsimbos, through his company Abotts Incorporation Services.

Mr Kotsimbos has reportedly established shelf companies for clients including notorious drug kingpin Tony Mokbel and underworld figure Mick Gatto. There’s no suggestion of illegality or any wrongdoing by Mr Kotsimbos.

Tony Mokbel. Picture: AFP

Mick Gatto. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Shelf companies are often established by a third party, allowing a business person to purchase them and quickly establish a company or business of their own.

Mr Kotsimbos was the director of Kellett Australia for one day before Mr Kellett’s brother, Corey Scott Kellett, took over.

Company records show Troy Kellett took over in 2003. There’s no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Corey Kellett or that he had any involvement with Mr Kotsimbos’s former clients.

THE LOVING FATHER AND GREAT FRIEND

The daughter of Mr Kellett says she couldn’t have asked for a better dad. She said he was the “best man” in all of their lives. A friend described him as the kind of man who would “give you his last $10”.

So it’s no surprise that they are also confused as to what he was doing at the shipyard. One long-time friend even demanded his death be fully investigated by police.

“The thing that gets me is that Troy wouldn’t be on top of a container for no reason,” the friend, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Advertiser last month.

Troy Kellett died after falling several metres from a shipping container at Outer Harbor on Sunday. Picture: Supplied

Demi Deksnis, daughter of Troy Kellett who died at a shipping container site at Osborne. Picture: Facebook

Despite being very suspicious about the circumstances, the friend didn’t allude to drugs. Instead, he suggested that Mr Kellett must have been in some sort of danger.

“The only conclusion I can come up with … is that he was hiding,” the friend said. “Something happened and he was hiding.”