Former UFC fighter Ashkan Mokhtarian charged with supplying drug, guns to Hunter crime syndicate

Former UFC star Ashkan ‘The Assassin’ Mokhtarian has been identified as the alleged secret supplier behind a crime syndicate accused of selling drugs and guns to an undercover cop.

Former MMA fighter Ashkan Mokhtarian pictured ahead of his UFC debut in 2017. He is now behind bars on remand, accused of supplying drugs and guns to a crime syndicate in the Hunter. Picture: Richard Dobson

Troubled former UFC star Ashkan ‘The Assassin’ Mokhtarian has been identified as the alleged secret supplier behind a Hunter crime syndicate accused of selling hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of drugs and guns to an undercover police officer last year.

Mokhtarian, a one-time professional MMA champion with a prior conviction for drug supply, is facing a string of serious charges after police say they uncovered a trove of encrypted messages allegedly showing how he organised to supply meth, ecstasy and two pistols to the syndicate’s alleged ringleader, Maitland barber Rami Aldhaher.

Mokhtarian was arrested in November and remanded in custody but faced the NSW Supreme Court last month where he unsuccessfully sought bail to attend rehab for drug addiction.

Court documents released exclusively to The Daily Telegraph reveal police will allege Mokhtarian was using Australian Top Team, the Wentworthville gym he co-owns with his brother Suman, to store some of the illicit goods before sending them on their way.

Mokhtarian’s legal team told the NSW Supreme Court he had longstanding addictions to cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis, and needed to be released on bail to attend a drug rehab centre. Picture: Richard Dobson

Suman Mokhtarian is not accused of any wrongdoing and the Telegraph does not suggest he knew about his brother’s alleged illegal activity or that illicit items were being stores at the premises.

Court documents outlining the case against Mokhtarian said police initially set up a strike force in early 2023 to investigate the alleged supply of drugs and guns by Aldhaher and infiltrated his group using an undercover officer posing as a buyer.

Police will allege the mole paid $223,250 to buy almost a kilogram of drugs and four guns between May and the end of October, when Aldhaher and his co-accused were arrested.

A subsequent forensic search of Aldhaher’s mobile phone allegedly revealed he and Mokhtarian had exchanged thousands of messages on Signal.

The court heard Mokhtarian had signed with UFC in 2017 but only participated in two fights, both of which he lost. Picture: Richard Dobson

“The majority of these messages relate to Mokhtarian supplying large commercial quantities of prohibited drugs … and firearms including pistols, military style assault rifles and shotguns,” the court documents said.

“Investigators strongly believe Mokhtarian is the upline supplier for Aldhaher and has access to firearms and drugs at any given time.”

Police will allege on September 13, Mokhtarian sent Aldhaher a picture of two Colt .45 pistols he was selling for $25,000.

Brothers Ashkan Mokhtarian and Suman Mokhtarian pictured ahead of their UFC debut in 2017. Suman Mokhtarian is not accused of any wrongdoing and it is not suggested he was aware of his brother’s alleged illegal activity. Picture: Richard Dobson

When Aldhaher attended Mokhtarian’s gym three days later to inspect the weapons, Mokhtarian allegedly gave him directions via Signal about where he would find the items inside the premises.

“It’s in the back shed … back left corner … white drawer … third drawer on the bottom … black Rebel bag,” Mokhtarian allegedly wrote.

The court heard police will allege the undercover officer later purchased one of the guns from Aldhaher in a separate transaction.

Police further allege Mokhtarian tried selling Albhaher an Uzi-style submachine gun and organised to have 500g of meth delivered to him at a cost of $43,000.

Mokhtarian was arrested at his Olympic Park home on November 11.

At his Supreme Court bail hearing, Mokhtarian’s lawyer urged Justice Sarah McNaughton to grant bail on a $50,000 surety so he could attend a live-in drug rehabilitation centre to treat his longstanding addictions to cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis.

However, Justice McNaughton refused to release Mokhtarian, finding he had not shown cause why his ongoing detention was not justified.

The court heard Mokhtarian had signed with UFC in 2017 but only participated in two fights, both of which he lost, before his contract ended in 2019, the same year he was caught supplying drugs to a woman in the Sydney CBD.

His current case will return to court on March 6.

Albhaher, who has been refused bail on more than 30 charges including multiple counts of supplying drugs and firearms, is due back in court later this year.