Lost for Words St Kilda bar stalwart Sefer Salahi charged with importing cocaine
A rockdog St Kilda bar legend has been accused of attempting to smuggle a huge stash of cocaine hidden in gaming console parts.
Inner South
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A Melbourne bar and live music scene legend allegedly had a stash of coke concealed in a gaming console posted to his St Kilda venue’s front door, a court has heard.
Sefer Salahi, 63, fronted the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday after he was slapped with charges including importing a marketable quantity of cocaine.
Salahi, a Lost for Words St Kilda stalwart, was allegedly nabbed red-handed with the package by federal police on November 10.
The court heard Salahi allegedly signed off on the delivery when it was couriered to the Barkly St venue’s door, with CCTV allegedly capturing him opening it at a nearby laneway a short time later.
The package allegedly contained cocaine paste which was stuffed inside a gaming console, the court heard.
Salahi’s lawyer said his client did not know who the package was addressed to.
“But he accepts it and signs for it?,” Magistrate Donna Bakos said.
The court was told Salahi works and lives at the bar the cocaine was mailed to.
The veteran rockdog has been involved with the famous Barkly St live music venue for many years and is well known among Melbourne’s bar scene and beyond.
According to its Facebook page, Lost for Words has a “wonderful vibe , beautiful friendly staff, and an upstairs smoking area that comes with a TV for sport and music”. It also says it’s a great place to host private parties.
Salahi faces a maximum 25 years in prison if he is convicted of importing a marketable quantity of cocaine.
Salahi, who also charged with attempting to possess cocaine, possess cannabis and deal with suspected proceeds of crime, will face a committal hearing on August 31.
An Australian Border Force announcement following the St Kilda bust estimated the alleged cocaine weighed 1.8kg and had been imported from Argentina.
Investigators also claimed to have allegedly seized $13,5000 cash
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