Underworld Kingpin Mokbel Avoids Return to Prison
Drug kingpin Tony Mokbel has been sentenced to time already served after losing a bid to overturn one of his convictions. Known as a gangland identity, Mokbel will not face additional jail time for trafficking 41kg of methamphetamine while on the run.
The 60-year-old appeared relieved at the Victorian Court of Appeal ruling on Thursday and shared a kiss with his girlfriend following the decision. Mokbel initially sought to have his 2006 conviction dismissed, alleging that barrister-turned-informer Nicola Gobbo had compromised his case.
In October, the court rejected his appeal on the drug-trafficking charge, known as Operation Magnum, maintaining his conviction. Justices Stephen McLeish, Maree Kennedy, and Stephen Kaye resentenced him to 13 years, seven months, and 15 days — a term already served.
Justice McLeish remarked that although the offending was serious and blatant, Mokbel's unique circumstances justified a lesser sentence.
Mokbel committed the Magnum offences between July 2006 and June 2007 while evading arrest on other charges. During this period, he trafficked over 41 kilograms of methamphetamine, generating more than $4 million in profits, while hiding in regional Victoria and Greece.
After his arrest and extradition to Melbourne in 2008, Mokbel pleaded guilty in 2011 to the Magnum charge and two other drug offences. He successfully appealed the latter two convictions, known as Quills and Orbital, earlier in 2025.
Author's summary: Despite a serious drug trafficking conviction, Tony Mokbel avoided further jail time due to his specific situation, having already served the full sentence.