Cocaine ring arrests: The men police say tried to arrange massive drug importation
THE son of a prominent Sydney lawyer, a one-time brothel owner, a cafe king and a Lamborghini-driving entrepreneur are all allegedly part of Australia’s largest cocaine smuggling syndicate.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE son of a prominent Sydney lawyer, a one-time brothel owner, an eastern suburbs cafe king, a Lamborghini-driving entrepreneur and a security guard are all part of the fast-living crew allegedly involved in Australia’s largest cocaine smuggling syndicate.
Police will allege fishing boss Joseph “Joe” Pirrello is one of the masterminds of the drug-smuggling ring and that the 63-year-old used several Sydney men as go-betweens with major players in Colombia, Chile and Fiji.
The Saturday Telegraph can reveal former Bondi Rescue HQ cafe owner Darren Mohr allegedly flew to Chile in August this year to talk to a drug supplier known as “Gutterball” and make arrangements for a 500kg shipment of cocaine — which never made it to Sydney’s shores.
RELATED NEWS
HOW POLICE CRACKED AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST DRUG SYNDICATE
Mohr, also known as “Stripes”, lives in Vaucluse and has an Instagram account littered with pictures of himself posing shirtless, flashy cars and speed boats.
Another of the alleged middle men was Benjamin Allan Sara, 31, a Greenacre entrepreneur who got married while under police surveillance and was arrested just days before he was due to board a cruise ship with his new wife.
Police will allege Benjamin Sara acted as a conduit between the Sydney syndicate and dealers in Fiji who planned to transport 32kg of heroin secreted in quad bike tyres.
NSW and federal police swooped on the group before the heroin made it to our shores and in the process arrested Australian man Ethan Kai, 35, who is now serving 15 years in jail in Fiji.
On Facebook Sara posts pictures of himself driving a black Bentley and a white Lamborghini and brags about racing his “pride and joy” — a Nissan GTR.
In February he shared holidays snaps of his new bride Stephanie with the caption: “Stephanie Sara you’re the greatest gift I’ve ever received.”
There is no suggestion Stephanie Sara is involved in illegal activity.
Then there is the youngest of the alleged go-betweens — a Bella Vista security guard named Jonathan Cooper, 29, accused of helping members of the syndicate make contact with people on the ground in Colombia.
The drug ring also allegedly included Richard “Rick” Lipton — a 37-year-old former Cranbrook student who lived at home with his parents in Double Bay and had to deal with a girlfriend who screamed her lungs out when he was arrested in one of a series of police raids on Christmas and Boxing Day.
Lipton’s father, well-known Sydney lawyer Norbert “Norrie” Lipton, declined to comment when called by The Saturday Telegraph.
All of the arrested men will appear in court in March.
What this $9.90 toilet paper reveals about your shop
Woolies is under fire for hitting consumers with higher prices in some of its stores, with a pack of toilet paper revealing the stark difference.
‘Afraid to go outside at night’: Youth crime worst it’s ever been
Just days after a Kingswood pizza shop owner was stabbed to death by a gang of youths, business owners in neighbouring stores say coming to work has become a daunting task.