Youssef Mallahie pleads guilty in respect of French wine MDMA import

A lover of the good life got involved in a major shipment of ecstasy hidden in French wine bottles in order to obtain cheap drugs.

Lover of good life Youssef Mallahie has admitted aiding and abetting those responsible for importing a large quantity of liquid ecstasy concealed in bottles of Bordeaux.

A man with a penchant for the good life has admitted to his role in aiding and abetting in the importation of more than 300kg of liquid ecstasy hidden in French wine bottles.

Youssef Mallahie, 26, of Roxburgh Park, pleaded guilty in the County Court on Tuesday to a charge of aiding and abetting in the importation of a commercial quantity of MDMA.

He is in custody and will be sentenced at a later date.

Mallahie was on bail at the time on charges, including possession of methamphetamine, and was subsequently sentenced to 18 months’ jail.

On the latest charge, 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.

Liquid MDMA was allegedly hidden in a consignment of French wine bottles.

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.

During the hearing following the guilty plea, prosecutor Jim Shaw said although Mallahie was not involved in the importation, he performed his task and assisted in importation of a “very large” quantity of MDMA.

In the context of his criminal history, he said Mallahie could not be treated as being naive or unsophisticated.

A box containing the seized French wine bottles.

Mallahie kept the cellphone for seven to eight weeks which made his role more than minor, Mr Shaw said.

Defence lawyer Dermot Dann submitted Mallahie played a minor role and there was no evidence of him being involved with any other aspect of the drug importation.

Police could not confirm whether the bottles used by the smugglers had been emptied and then refilled with the illicit substance.

There is the possibility that professionally produced counterfeit labels were manufactured then affixed to bottles.

Labels on the versions exposed by Australian Border Force officials appeared different to the genuine article sold in Melbourne bottle shops.

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.