Vrej Yezekellian sentenced, leaving Kigham Wartanian waiting for verdict for attempting to import cocaine

A man was has been sentenced for his role in an international drug importation, smuggling 5kg of cocaine into Sydney via Milan and California, while his criminal offsider will wait to learn his fate.

Vrej Yezekellian and Kigham Wartanian used the ANOM platform. (Photo by Olivier MORIN / AFP)

A man was handed an 11-year jail term for his part in an international drug importation, smuggling 5kg of cocaine into Sydney via Milan and California, while his criminal offsider will be left waiting weeks to learn his fate.

Kigham Wartanian, 41, was due to be sentenced on Friday afternoon, however “earlier problems” in court led to delays. It meant Vrej Yezkellian, 67, was the only offender of the pair to be sentenced.

The two men from Sydney’s southwest had led a largely crime-free existence until Australian Federal Police officers arrested the duo near Wartanian‘s address at Green Valley on May 25, 2021.

Documents tendered to Downing Centre District Court reveal the pair were AN0M users and were collecting the cocaine consignment sent by ‘Sina’, a mystery crime figure unknown to authorities.

Wartanian, who has pleaded guilty to conspiring to import a border-controlled drug, possession of a border-controlled drug and fraud charges, was found with 8.47g of gamma-butyrolactone (GBL), with a search of his Green Valley uncovering 10 fake NSW driver’s licences with his image, with three licences with the image of Yezekellian.

Australian Federal Police identified Vrej Yezekellian and Kigham Wartanian as users of ANOM.

At Yezekellian’s Bonnyrigg home, $125,400 cash was found. The 67-year-old – who had no previous criminal record – has pleaded guilty to importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, dealing with suspected proceeds of crime and fraud offences.

Court documents outline how a 3kg cocaine package was hidden inside an electronic food warmer sent to Sydney from Milan, Italy. It was discovered by authorities on April 15, 2021.

Cocaine was seized from an electric food warmer by Australian Border Force officials. Picture: Australian Federal Police

The next month, a further 2kg cocaine package was found in a ‘diamond microdermabrasion’ which had arrived from California, USA.

When interviewed by police, both men denied any involvement with the importations or fake licences.

The barrister of Yezekellian, who was supported in court by his wife and three sons for a sentence hearing on February 17, told the court the 67-year-old wasn’t the “architect” of the operation and had led a “blameless life” until this crime.

Wartanian’s barrister Mr McMahon revealed his client was “shot in the head” in 2014 with a brain injury which had impaired his decision-making on becoming involved in the scheme.

The crown prosecutor said Yezekellian’s role wasn’t “impulsive (or) short-lived” and he was aware what he was doing, and not everyone with Wartanian’s injury became involved in such large-scale crimes.

The court heard Wartanian had a “lifelong substance abuse disorder”, which the crown prosecutor submitted had worsened the impact of his brain injury.

On Friday, Judge John Pickering handed down a sentence for Yezkellian, speaking on his “extensive role” in the operation.

Despite Judge Pickering saying the duo’s roles were “pretty similar”, he concluded “there may be reasons” to give the 41-year-old a longer sentence.

He said “it would not be by a lot”, but noted Yezkellian’s older age, the effects each year in custody would have on his health and he was unlikely to reoffend.

“[I am] far from convinced that [Wartanian’s] head injury played a significant role in this offending … he is much younger than this offender … he does not have the same positive subjective features,” Judge Pickering said.

Yezkellian was ultimately handed an 11-year sentence where he will be eligible for release on parole from November 24, 2027.

With Judge Pickering “in Taree for the next three weeks”, Wartanian will be sentenced on March 22.