Jail over drug cash

Aussies held in Serbia linked to 1280kg coke bust in Sydney

THREE Australian men are behind bars in a Serbian jail following dramatic arrests at a five-star hotel over links to an international drug-smuggling group that tried to bring more than a tonne of cocaine into Sydney last year.

The men – two in their 40s and another in his 30s – were arrested by Serbian police yesterday, alongside a Lebanese man, also in his 40s. Dramatic footage shows Serbian Police with weapons drawn swooping on the lobby of the luxury Metropol Palace hotel in the Serbian capital Belgrade. The video shows the four men handcuffed and lying on the floor.

A bag filled with foreign currency banknotes is shown in the video. Local police say the arrests were made during a “money handover”.

Serbian police alleged the men “are linked to” the discovery of 1280kg of cocaine seized in April 2017 on a Chinese vessel docked in Sydney.

The drugs were said to be worth $500 million.

Authorities said the arrests were made in co-operation with Australian police. An Australian Federal Police spokesman said the AFP were aware of the reports but as “the men are the subject of an investigation in Serbia, it would not be appropriate for the AFP to provide further comment at this time”.

The Lebanese man was detained and charged with having forged identity documents.

English-speaking Serbian broadcaster, b92, reported the men were arrested with large amounts of various currencies and one pistol.

Serbian authorities said they would “continue to co-operate with Australia’s authorities in order to implement further action related to this permanent international investigation”.

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was aware of reports of the men’s arrest.

“Consular assistance will be provided as needed,” a DFAT spokeswoman said.