City Beat: Restaurateur Daniel Milos resumes trading in Toowong after cocaine trafficking charge

A Brisbane restaurateur charged with cocaine trafficking and money laundering has returned to the scene of the alleged crime, resuming his service of Italian fare on the site of his old award-winning venue.

Daniel Milos, the former owner of Mariosarti restaurant at Toowong. Picture: Steve Pohlner

YOU might say Daniel Milos has returned to the scene of the alleged crime.

The Brisbane restaurateur is back serving up Italian fare on Toowong’s high street, trading under the banner of Barolos.

It’s the same Sherwood Rd venue where his old award-winning eatery Mariosarti opened in 1995.

Restaurateur used Uber Eats to deliver cocaine – court

It’s also the place where Milos allegedly ran a nice little earner on the side, selling cocaine in 2016 and 2017.

Daniel Milos, the former owner of Mariosarti restaurant at Toowong. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Milos and his then-head chef, Ryan McIver, were arrested in April last year in what police described as one of the state’s biggest coke investigations.

The drug, referred to in code as a “full feed of ragu,’’ was allegedly distributed via Uber Eats bags and the profits laundered as food sales.

Charged with cocaine trafficking and money laundering, Milos was back in court this week and is due to return for a mention on February 6.

McIver has already been sentenced to two years behind bars, suspended after three months.

Milos has not yet entered a plea in the case. But he has agreed to pay $128,000 to lift a freeze order over $1.5 million worth of assets, including the restaurant property, which is owned by a company controlled by his partner Wendy Hartzenberg.

Following his arrest, Milos sold Mariosarti to hospitality veteran Kim Hamson but it lasted only 14 months before going bust in July.

Milos did not return calls seeking comment this week.