Socialite Bitcoin trader Anthony Hess on high-level drug charges

Former bikie boss Toby Mitchell has taunted socialite Bitcoin trader Anthony Hess just hours after it was revealed he was facing high-level drug charges.

Flamboyant socialite Anthony Hess has swapped designer clothing for prison greens after being arrested on high-level drug charges that carry potential 25 year prison terms.

Mr Hess, who describes himself as a “hot mess Hess” on social media, is facing allegations he tried to import 4kg of cocaine, 4kg of methamphetamine and 1kg of ketamine into Australia.

The 43-year-old was arrested this week in a joint Australian Federal Police-Victoria Police operation code-named Rhyolite.

Mr Hess, a Bitcoin trader well-connected with entertainment industry figures, was allegedly involved in a syndicate that used air cargo to smuggle up to 15kg of drugs per consignment out of the United States and Europe.

His Instagram account documents his lavish lifestyle in the Americas ever since he left Australia in 2020, when former Mongols strongman Toby Mitchell attacked him outside the Gilson Cafe in South Yarra.

After reading of Mr Hess’ drug charges on the Herald Sun, Mitchell posted a screenshot of the story with the caption “every dog has their day”.

Socialite Bitcoin trader Anthony Hess with Toby Mitchell.

Anthony Hess has been accused of high-level international drug trafficking. Picture: John Grainger

Among recent jaunts, Mr Hess travelled to Colombia to have plastic surgery to fix a “botched” liposuction job on his flabby belly.

He appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court briefly on Wednesday and was remanded in custody until September.

The AFP said investigators from the Victorian joint organised crime task force seized electronic devices from the home of Mr Hess on Tuesday.

Rhyolite, which began in June last year, has so far seized 35kg of cocaine shipped into Australia via air cargo.

Authorities have detected multiple consignments of liquid cocaine concealed in marker pens and mini-smoker machines sent to Melbourne on planes.

Toby Mitchell post to Instagram after reading the Herald Sun’s exclusive story.

Mr Hess is the sixth person arrested in relation to the alleged syndicate.

In December, a 39-year-old man, a 42-year-old man and a 39-year-old woman were arrested and charged with multiple importation offences.

Anthony Hess in Las Vegas with a friend.

In the same month, Victoria Police arrested a 26-year-old man and a 24-year-old-man who were also charged with multiple drug manufacture and possession offences.

A stint behind bars will mark a dramatic lifestyle change for Mr Hess, who has in the past been a close friend of Married At First Sight contestant Stacey Hampton.

Mr Hess, a former shirtless waiter and spray tan model, hurriedly moved overseas when Ms Hampton told the imposing Mr Mitchell he had been speaking ill of him.

Hr Hess’s departure to Los Angeles, replete with a suspected facial fracture, made it difficult for police to investigate the fracas.

Former Married At First Sight contestant Stacey Hampton.

She told Toby Mitchell that Hess had been speaking ill of him.

Mr Hess has been ensconced in other legal dramas over the years.

He was last year fined $2400 for vandalising Sydney PR queen Roxy Jacenko’s office with the slur “Roxy is a c--t”.

Ms Jacenko said the graffiti attack left her distraught, and in fear for her children’s safety.

Mr Hess had at first denied taking part in the graffiti attack, insisting “gays don’t do graffiti”.

He moved to the United States before the graffiti case made its way through the NSW court system.

Superintendent Uriah Turner of Australian Border Force said the organisation had made a number of import detections linked to the syndicate.

“During this operation the Australian Border Force worked closely with its law enforcement partners to target a syndicate bringing illicit drugs into the country,” Supt Turner said.

“No matter how criminals attempt to conceal and move their drugs, ABF officers have the skills, technology and resources to find the substances and track down the people who are attempting to bring them in.”

Anthony Hess is a socialite with connections to the entertainment industry.

Detective inspector Mark McKiernan said the AFP would continue to target those attempting to and import illicit drugs.

“We remain committed to keeping our communities safe by targeting the dangerous criminals who try to bring these destructive drugs to our streets,” Insp McKiernan said.

“To those believing they can get away with this without any consequences, think again. If you attempt to import illicit drugs into Australia, you will be caught and face significant time in prison.”

He has had other troubles over the years.

Victoria Police joint organised crime task force Detective inspector Dan Ryan, said the operation highlights the value of joint investigations.

“As this investigation shows, we are often dealing with organised crime syndicates that have immense reach both nationally and internationally,” he said.

“We want to make it as difficult as possible for these syndicates to bring harm to Victoria and create an environment where they should expect to be targeted and held to account.

“Victoria Police will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure those who bring that harm to our state are held to account, and that these criminal syndicates involved in the trafficking of illicit drugs are strongly and deliberately targeted.”