Western suburbs optometrist tied up in gangland international drug smuggling syndicate probe

Investigators have been keeping a local optometrist firmly in their sights following a 400kg methamphetamine seizure in Malaysia last November.

Felix Pham a western suburbs optometrist has been entangled in a police probe into an international drug smuggling syndicate.

A western suburbs optometrist has been entangled in a police probe into an alleged international drug smuggling syndicate allegedly led by gangland boss George Marrogi.

Until last month, Felix Pham quietly ran an eyewear business in bustling Nicholson St, Footscray.

But he was firmly in the sights of detectives from an operation called Stealers, being run from the Victoria Police Echo taskforce.

Those investigators had placed Mr Pham under scrutiny for some months in the aftermath of a 400kg methamphetamine seizure made at Kuala Lumpur Airport in Malaysia last November.

Detectives pounced in April, arresting the 50-year-old from Footscray and two other men from Essendon and Albanvale.

They allegedly seized $1.5m in cash and 30kg of drugs, including heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine.

Gangland boss George Marrogi. Picture: Instagram

Mr Pham, whose social media account carries the motto “life is a risk, remains on remand.

He is charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of heroin, trafficking a large commercial quantity of amphetamine, trafficking a large commercial quantity of cocaine and knowingly dealing in the proceeds of crime.

Mr Pham is due to face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court for a committal mention hearing in July.

Stealers was run from Echo’s Middle-Eastern organised crime section.

They were assisted in their raids by the illicit firearms unit, the major drug squad, forensic specialists from the Australian Federal Police, the national anti-gangs squad and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.

The Notorious Crime Family gang, led by Marrogi, has also been investigated over the Malaysian seizure.

It ignited the Australian Federal Police’s operation Fuji, which used phone taps to catch Marrogi allegedly organising drug shipments, contract killings and bashings from prison.

Officers attached to Fuji have charged him with directing the activities of a criminal organisation from behind bars.