Youssef Mallahie fronts court over his role in massive French wine bottle drug importation

A man with a penchant for the high life was brought down to earth with revelations he aided in the importation of 268 bottles of MDMA disguised in French wine bottles.

Youssef Mallahie has copped a 14 year jail term for helping in the importation of a large quantity of MDMA.

A man with a penchant for the good life who admitted to his role in the importation of more than 300kg of liquid ecstasy hidden in French wine bottles has been jailed for 14 years.

Youssef Mallahie, 26, of Roxburgh Park, appeared for sentencing in the County Court on Friday after earlier pleading guilty to one charge of aiding and abetting in the importation of a commercial quantity of MDMA.

He was one of two people arrested in connection with the foiled consignment of MDMA hidden in bottles of Mouton Cadet Baron Philippe De Rothschild 2016 Bordeaux that arrived by air in September 2022.

The consignment was 532.5 times the commercial quantity allowable for MDMA.

Mallahie’s role was safekeeping of a cellphone that was used to contact the freight company. There’s no evidence that the Carlton-born, Broadmeadows-raised man was involved in the importation, possession or sale of the MDMA.

The French wine bottles that had MDMA in them. Picture: Supplied / AFP

But Judge Rosemary Carlin said Mallahie helped in the criminal offending and he must have realised a commercial quantity of MDMA was being imported.

“You were not naive to drug offending,” she said.

Mallahie was on bail at the time on charges, she said, including possession of methamphetamine.

He was subsequently sentenced to 18 months’ jail.

On the latest offending, Judge Carlin said Mallahie played an important role in diverting attention from his associates and was clearly a trusted member of the team.

She said Mallahie’s criminal history was “very concerning” as was the escalating nature of his offending.

Previous prison sentences didn’t deter him from reoffending and his prospects of rehabilitation were guarded, she said.

The more than 300 kilograms of liquid MDMA hidden in a consignment of French wine bottles seized by border control and AFP.

Mallahie will be eligible for parole after serving eight years and nine months.

The prosecution’s case was that Mallahie’s role was more than minor as he kept the cellphone for seven to eight weeks.

Police could not confirm whether the bottles used by the smugglers had been emptied and then refilled with the illicit substance. There was the possibility that professionally produced counterfeit labels were manufactured then affixed to bottles.

Mallahie’s social media accounts indicate he is a man who enjoys the good life.

There are pictures from what appears to be nights out in swank CBD accommodation and an image of him sitting on the bonnet of a luxury Mercedes-Benz SUV.