‘Model’ refugee Hamid Ranjbarian on drug charges

Hamid Ranjbarian charged with conspiring to import the drug ice as CGU removes him from marketing material.

Hamid Ranjbarian appearing as part of an insurance advertising campaign. Picture: Supplied

Refugee ‘poster boy’ and ‘model migrant’ Hamid Ranjbarian, who was charged with conspiring to import up to 40kg of the drug Ice from overseas, practised “herbal medicine” in Iran for 15 years before arriving in Australia.

The father-of-one was arrested yesterday at his North Parramatta home along with Saeed Bakhtiyari, 27, who was also charged for his part in the alleged conspiracy to import the drugs worth an estimated $36 million in potential street value.

During the searches, police seized Rolex watches and other luxury-brand items, a BMW, a motor bike, mobile phones, computers, and various documentation.

Drug and Firearms Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Martin Fileman, said police will allege in court the pair were the leaders of the Iranian drug syndicate and other members should “expect a knock on the door” as investigations under Strike Force Decry continue.

The drugs were allegedly imported from Iran, through Turkey and detective Fileman said they were “close” to reaching Sydney before they were stopped, after police were investigating the pair since June last year.

It was only last year that Mr Ranjbarian, 37, starred in a national TV campaign to encourage migrants to start small businesses, claiming his “two herbal businesses were profitable” before he left Iran.

The CGU Insurance advert featured the slogan “Grit. Hard work. Resilience … Australian as it gets” and highlighted Mr Ranjbarian’s new life in Australia, where he established the painting business AAA Quality Painting & Decorating.

A spokesperson from CGU Insurance said they were “concerned about the very serious allegations”.

“As this is currently before the courts, we’re not in a position to comment directly on the case. However, given the allegations, we’ve removed campaign material featuring Mr Ranjbarian,” the spokesperson said.

Mr Ranjbarian moved to Australia in 2013 under the Labor government after leaving Iran via Indonesia in 2011.

The 37-year-old said he wanted to give back to Australia by “employing people, growing my business and paying my taxes”.

“For me, success is a result of hard work,” Mr Ranjbarian said as part of the CGU campaign.

“In Iran it’s all about experience, but here I needed a qualification to practice herbal medicine … and I had been working in the industry for 15 years.”

Detective Fileman said the investigation was ongoing and police would be working with the Australian Border Force to track down the syndicate.

“Ice still remains one of the most commonly seized drug at Australian borders … They (dealers) were concerned with lining their pockets with the profits and money from the drug sales,” Detective Fileman said.

Both men were charged with three counts of conspiracy to import commercial quantity of border-controlled drug, four counts of prohibited drug supply, and participate criminal group-contribute criminal activity.

The case was adjourned until April 18 and an application for Mr Ranjbarian’s bail will be before the courts next Thursday. Both men remain behind bars.