Robin Reffo: AFP restrain assets from carpenter arrested in alleged $1bn International Motor Cars drug syndicate

Werribee tradie and alleged drug syndicate minion Robin Reffo has suffered a major legal blow, being stripped of a significant portion of his assets.

Law enforcement authorities have stripped a Werribee tradie on major drug charges of a significant portion of his assets.

The Australian Federal Police were on Tuesday granted orders restraining swathes of property linked to carpenter and alleged criminal Robin Reffo, his wife Linda and family company, Reffo Constructions.

The company is owned by four of Reffo’s relatives, Grace, Kim, Gianfranco and Ivonne Reffo, none of whom are accused of any wrongdoing.

Reffo, 39, of Werribee, was allegedly part of a syndicate that planned to import $1bn of methamphetamine and cocaine from Los Angeles and India in mid-2021.

The precise details of the assets relinquished, and the basis for County Court Judge Sarah Hinchey’s orders remained unclear because Her Honour refused a routine request to access court documents.

Judge Hinchey did not provide a clear reason for refusing the request.

Robin Reffo, who has been charged by Australian Federal Police over an alleged $1 billion ice importation conspiracy

Auto business operator Joe Scordo who has been charged over drug importation conspiracy as part of Operation Ironside. Picture: Supplied

It is alleged Reffo played a crucial, but minor role in the syndicate by agreeing to be the recipient of car rims for a “dry run” importing drugs.

The rims were imported through co-accused Joe Scordo’s business, International Motor Cars in Sunshine West.

Reffo allegedly used the identity of a dead man – referred to in court documents only as “George” – in an apparent attempt to evade detection.

Reffo also allegedly held $45,000 in cash in a safe in the laundry of his home and another $5000 in his car, on behalf of the syndicate.

Police also allege they found 3.5kg of drugs in Reffo’s garage during raids conducted when Operation Ironside went public, and investigators moved in on hundreds of alleged offenders linked to dozens of alleged criminal enterprises around the country

International Motor Cars in Sunshine West was to be the destination for a $1bn drug importation uncovered in Operation Ironside. Picture: Mark Stewart

The syndicate was allegedly led by Danny Zayneh, used Mr Scordo’s business and involved Reffo’s gym mate, kickboxer Omar Dib.

The syndicate unravelled and all its members were arrested when the Australian Federal Police concluded Operation Ironside, which involved the interception of millions of messages between underworld figures sent on the encrypted ANOM app.

The courts have heard Reffo used the ANOM handle “magicwould” and at one point messaged Zayneh to say he was “all in” and that “we will all get a good earn”.

Zayneh allegedly replied: “F--- yeah brother, lol. Love your enthusiasm”.

Fighter Omar Dib is also facing major charges related to the syndicate. Picture: Supplied

Reffo’s alleged involvement with the syndicate had major financial consequences on his family even before he, his wife, and his grandfather’s company’s assets were restrained this week, with Mr Reffo’s mother-in-law, Minera Sefa, posting a $1m surety to secure his release on bail in October 2021, after he served three months on remand.

The syndicate’s legal proceedings, like most ANOM cases, have been the subject of years of legal delays.

The courts have heard the syndicate’s trial might not proceed until as late as 2027, having previously been slated for last year.

Reffo has indicated he will fight charges of conspiring to import a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs, trafficking a commercial quantity of methamphetamine and dealing with the proceeds of crime.

Australian authorities have so far seized more than $55m in cash, and millions more in other assets and cryptocurrency from alleged offenders arrested by Operation Ironside detectives.