Eddie Hayson extradited to Sydney after Gold Coast drug arrest

Former brothel owner Eddie Hayson has arrived in Sydney to face drug charges, after being extradited from the Gold Coast.

Former brothel owner Eddie Hayson has arrived in Sydney to face drug charges, after being extradited from the Gold Coast.

Mr Hayson was dressed in a brown shirt and cargo pants as he was escorted off of a plane
by two law enforcement officers on Wednesday afternoon.

He was then flanked by more officers and marched out of the terminal and placed in a waiting car before being driven out of Sydney Airport.

Eddie Hayson, who for decades has been one of Sydney’s most colourful identities, was extradited from the Gold Coast to face charges for drug importation.

The former brothel owner, big time punter and friend of jockeys, rugby league players and other sports stars was arrested by NSW Organised Crime Squad detectives at his Gold Coast apartment on Tuesday morning.

Eddie Hayson arrives at Sydney airport from the Gold Coast on Wednesday after being arrested for drug importation. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Police allege the 55-year-old was involved in transporting 16kg of methamphetamine and 5kg of MDMA from WA to Sydney last August.

Strike Force Maimura — comprising the NSW State Crime Command, AFP, NSW Crime Commission, WA Police and Queensland Police — made the arrest after identifying a criminal group allegedly supplying drugs across Australia using private planes and encrypted devices.

Sydney punter and former brothel owner Eddie Hayson has been arrested by NSW Police.

Hayson, whose family owned the Northbridge Shopping Centre, opened the up-market brothel Stiletto in Camperdown in 2002, putting legalised prostitution on the map in Sydney.

A spectacular opening party was attended by B-grade celebrities, models, journalists and sports stars and he famously opened a car wash in the basement for clients while they used the services of the 24-hour bordello upstairs.

Hayson admitted he let footballers and jockeys have sex for free but denied he received any insider information in exchange.

Organised Crime Squad detectives will extradite Eddie Hayson (centre) from the Gold Coast to Sydney following an investigation into alleged commercial drug supply around Australia under Strike Force Maimura. Picture: NSW Police

In 2015 the brothel was sold for nearly $18 million around the same time Hayson declared himself insolvent with debts of $52 million.

His former partner, Jamelie Lahood, a madam at Stiletto, was last year charged with money laundering relating to a 100kg seizure of methamphetamine.

Hayson, who is banned for life from TABs and the Star Casino, won $2 million betting that Newcastle Knights legend Andrew Johns would miss a game through injury.

An NRL investigation found there was no wrongdoing and criminal charges weren’t laid.

Detectives are expected to request his extradition to Sydney. Picture: NSW Police

In 2016 Hayson admitted he tried to place $30,000 into NRL star Kieran Foran’s account after police launched an investigation into match fixing claims.

Hayson denied any involvement in rigging matches and after a three-year investigation police found there was no evidence to support the claims.

In the same year Hayson handed $60,000 to former Comanchero bikie boss Mark Buddle, weeks after he got out of prison.

At the time Hayson said he did it because “I like him … he’s a friend. I like him and I respect him.”

Buddle is currently in a Melbourne jail facing drug importation charges, which are in no way related to the fresh allegations against Hayson.

Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Email [e-mail]