Surfers Paradise builder Gregory Murphy, 35, to fight charges after $175m Colombian cartel cocaine bust
A builder who allegedly had a ‘controlling role’ in a $175m cocaine ring with ties to a Colombian cartel has the support of his family as he prepares to fight the charges.
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A Surfers Paradise builder police allege was part of a $175 million cocaine ring with ties to a Colombian cartel is a motorcycle and jetski enthusiast with “strong family support” in his bid to beat the charges.
Self-employed 35-year-old Gregory Murphy was one of nine Australians charged after an elaborate Australian Federal Police (AFP) sting. A court was told Murphy had a “controlling role” in the operation and that he allegedly drove two Colombian nationals, including one chemist – as well as chemicals and fuel to a purpose-built “cocaine factory” hidden at the back of a rural property near Kingaroy.
The AFP also allege Murphy and other accused syndicate members were planning to make a pick up of drugs off the Coast of Darwin.
Murphy fronted Southport Magistrates Court on Friday, charged with conspiracy to manufacture a commercial quantity of controlled drugs (cocaine), and spent the weekend behind bars awaiting a $400,000 bail surety to be posted by his parents as well as the surrender of his passport.
His nine bail conditions also stipulated he has to live with his parents at Tenterfield in Northern New South Wales, abide by a 10pm to 4am curfew and not travel to other parts of New South Wales including Newcastle or Sydney.
Murphy’s lawyer, prominent Gold Coast defence attorney Campbell MacCallum, said it was a “difficult decision” for Magistrate Mark Bamberry to grant bail.
“There seems to be some fairly tight conditions which will ensure my client will comply with his bail,” Mr MacCallum said outside court.
Mr MacCallum said the court was concerned over whether Murphy was a flight risk but was ultimately satisfied with the proposed bail conditions.
When asked if Murphy would be fighting the charges, Mr MacCallum said the allegations were “very serious” but it was “only a matter of time before we get a proof of evidence and go from there”.
Mr MacCallum told the court Mr Murphy has no criminal history, earned up to $200,000 a year as a self-employed builder and had strong family support.
The AFP initially opposed Mr Murphy’s bail application, alleging he played a “controlling role” in the syndicate and that $1.75m in cash had been found at his girlfriend’s house in West End, Brisbane. Janine Williams, 32, was arrested in relation to the investigation and charged with possessing proceeds of crime. She was later released on bail.
Murphy has ties to former Gold Coast bodybuilder, lifeguard and Olympic swimming hopeful Rhys Ferszt, 33 – who the AFP allege was the Australian kingpin behind the operation.
In a since-deleted Facebook entry, Murphy tagged Ferszt, in a 2017 post: “Take me Bk (sic),” the post read in reference to California’s Coachella Music Festival.
He also tagged Gold Coast-based Playboy cover model Giuliana Migliorini in the post, who starred in a series of Ultra Tune advertisements with actor Charlie Sheen, Pamela Anderson and ex-footballer Warwick Capper. There is no suggestion Ms Migliorini has anything to do with the AFP charges or case.
A further examination of Murphy’s social media shows his love of lavish motorcycles and extreme toys such as jetskis and powerboats.
In a number of Facebook updates between 2014 and 2016, Murphy appeared to be conducting fly-in-fly-out mining work to and from Darwin, where Ferszt was living and dramatically arrested by federal agents outside a gym on Thursday night.
Murphy’s family support is also evident, having enjoyed a whirlwind trip around Europe with his brother in 2014. He was all smiles in photos and in one update from San Sebastian, Spain wrote, “I could get used to this”.
In a 2011 post, he wrote “Tenterfield sucks” although ironically, it is where he will spend the duration of his strict bail period.
The court was told that a warehouse at Varsity Lakes on the Gold Coast was used to store chemicals and fuel which Murphy allegedly drove to the Durong drug lab on multiple occasions to process the cocaine.
The court heard, after the drug bust, phone taps allegedly revealed Murphy telling a co-accused: “they have got it … no drugs this weekend.”
He also allegedly told a co-accused that he would be ‘set for life … you might be in prison but you will get looked after. You won’t get bashed.”
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Originally published as Surfers Paradise builder Gregory Murphy, 35, to fight charges after $175m Colombian cartel cocaine bust
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