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Rohan Arnold ‘king of steel’ arrested in Serbia

 ExpressDigest

1 day ago

A millionaire businessman who recently raced the Sydney to Hobart and a billionaire construction magnate are among three Australians languishing in a Serbian jail over alleged links to a $500million drug bust.
Rohan Arnold – dubbed the ‘king of steel’ for his roaring success in the industry – was arrested at gunpoint inside the Metropol Palace Hotel, in Belgrade, on Wednesday.
The 44-year-old was drinking with Tristan Waters, 34, David Campbell, 48, and Diab George, 40, a Lebanese man, in the hotel lobby when they were arrested in dramatic circumstances.

Waters, a former Canberra nightclub bouncer turned billionaire construction owner, has been labelled as the cartel leader and a ‘big narco boss’ by the Serbian media.
All four are suspected of having ties to an international drug syndicate – dubbed the ‘Waters’ cartel’ – which allegedly attempted to smuggle 1.28 tonnes worth of cocaine into Sydney from China last year.


Rohan Arnold, a construction magnate who recently raced the Sydney to Hobart, is one of three Australians languishing in a Serbian jail over alleged links to a $500million drug bust


The 44-year-old was one of three Australians and a Lebanese man arrested on Wednesday 



Arnold was arrested at gunpoint as he enjoyed drinks with his alleged associates at Belgrade’s Metropol Palace Hotel on Wednesday
Waters was reportedly manager of a security firm based in the ACT before moving on to build his own construction firm called Triswat.
But the businessman, who is now based in Dubai, was also reportedly connected to multiple companies linked to the ATO tax fraud syndicate run by Adam Cranston, the son of then ATO deputy commissioner Michael Cranston.
Waters was a director of CREI Camperdown set up by Dev Menon, the Sydney lawyer who allegedly provided tax advice to the ATO syndicate, Fairfax reports.

Mr Arnold is a director of South East Livestock Exchange and also his own company ‘Arnold Co’ – a major player in the NSW construction industry.
The father-of-four was born and educated in Canberra where he graduated with a commerce degree in 1995, according to his business website.
Just days ago, he wrote on his personal blog that the global steel industry was thriving and that he was optimistic about the future.
‘Global demand for mass steel looks likely to increase in 2018, with emerging economies including Latin America and the Middle East experiencing strong urban development,’ he wrote.


Arnold is a director of South East Livestock Exchange and also his own company ‘Arnold Co’ – a major player in the NSW construction industry


The four men were dramatically arrested in the lobby (pictured) of the lavish hotel in Belgrade


This picture shows the table and lounge the men had been sitting on before they were arrested, as well as a bag police say contained various forms of currency 


Arnold (pictured) has had a 20-year career in the steel manufacturing industry 
Arnold’s 20-year career in the steel industry and subsequent affluence has gifted him opportunities like competing in the Sydney to Hobart for a third time in 2017.
But just three weeks after successfully completing the prestigious yacht race, he finds himself at the centre of the second largest cocaine seizure in Australian history.
Mr Arnold first came to the attention of Australian Federal Police after they captured a 1.28 tonne cocaine haul – with a street value of close to $500million – hidden on a shipment of pre-fabricated steel which travelled from China to Sydney last April.
Following his dramatic arrest in Belgrade, the AFP on Wednesday raided Mr Arnold’s home where he lives with his family on the NSW-ACT border.
One of his business premises in Goulburn was also searched – as were properties in Jeir and Canberra.


The bag was filled with cash including about $600,000 Euros and $10,000 Australian dollars, police said


The AFP on Wednesday raided Mr Arnold’s home where he lives with his family on the NSW-ACT border 
Video showed Mr Arnold sitting inside the lobby of the Belgrade hotel with three other men, completely unaware they were about to be raided by police.
The footage, released by Serbian authorities, showed officers throw the men to the ground during what police allege was a ‘money handover’.
Officers said they found a bag filled with various forms of currency, including approximately $600,000 Euros and $10,000 Australian dollars.
One of Arnold’s colleagues told Daily Mail Australia he was shocked to learn of his arrest in Serbia, saying he assumed Arnold had travelled to China.
‘I spoke to him the other day and he said he was going overseas for a week but he’d be back before Sunday [for the opening of a new stock yard],’ Brendan Abbey said.
‘I was under the impression he was off to China. He went there often because he has interests in steel there.


Police are pictured storming into the Belgrade hotel moments before the dramatic arrests


A Serbian police officer is seen opening a bag which they said contained various forms of currency  


One of the four men is taken into custody after being arrested over alleged links to a one tonne cocaine bust
‘We’re just in shock, utter shock. It’s got nothing to do with us though.’
In a statement released on Thursday, the South East Livestock Exchange (SELX) said its business was not involved in any way with the police operation.
‘SELX Pty Ltd owns livestock selling centres at Yass (SELX) and Mortlake (WVLX),’ the statement read.
‘The Directors of SELX Pty Ltd have become aware through the media that Rohan Arnold a Director of SELX Pty Ltd has been arrested by Serbian authorities in Belgrade.
‘The operation and management of SELX and WVLX are not affected by this development. Livestock sales will continue as scheduled.’


Mr Arnold first came to the attention of Australian Federal Police after they captured a 1.28 tonne cocaine haul


A block of cocaine is pictured after it was seized in what was the second largest haul of the drug in Australian history


Arnold’s lawyer said he expects his client (pictured) to be back in Australia within six weeks if he is not charged
The Arnold Co. website says it ‘removes the unknown risks associated procurement with primarily construction related products from China’.
Mr Arnold’s defence lawyer told The Sydney Morning Herald he was in the process of organising to see him in Serbia.
‘That will be co-ordinated through [the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade],’ Ben Aulich said on Thursday.
‘If everything is co-ordinated smoothly and he is not facing charges in Serbia, then we expect him back in the country within four to six weeks.’
The AFP released a statement hours after the Serbian bust, alleging they had linked three of the arrested men to a major drug haul in April. It is unclear which of the four men arrested in Serbia the AFP was referring to. 
‘Operation Amorgos commenced in April 2017, with the interception of a container of pre-fabricated steel arriving into Sydney from a source country via China,’ the statement read.
‘AFP investigators commenced a tenacious nine-month investigation to pursue those allegedly responsible for this importation.
‘No arrests have been made in Australia at this time, though investigations remain ongoing.’ 


Video showed Mr Arnold sitting inside the lobby of the Belgrade hotel with three other men before police pounced


Serbian authorities are seen entering the hotel before arresting the three Australians and a Lebanese man

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5282353/Rohan-Arnold-one-Australian-men-arrested-Serbia.html

Upad policije i hapsenje, ocigledno ih neko odrukao.


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