Court slashes gangland boss’ sentence

Court Slashes Gangland Boss’ Sentence

Former Melbourne gangland figure Tony Mokbel achieved a major legal victory after Victoria’s Court of Appeal ruled he will not serve any further prison time for his drug trafficking conviction.

Mokbel, a central figure in Melbourne’s notorious gangland wars, was originally sentenced in 2012 to 30 years in prison for serious drug offences. The sentence included a minimum non-parole period of 22 years. Having already spent 18 years in custody, he was granted bail in April.

Appeals and Convictions

Mokbel challenged his convictions from three major police operations — Orbital, Magnum, and Quills — following revelations that his former lawyer, Nicola Gobbo, had secretly acted as a police informant.

In the Quills case, the Court of Appeal overturned his conviction and acquitted him of trafficking charges.
In the Orbital case, which dealt with MDMA imports and trafficking, the court ordered a new trial.
In the Magnum case, which concerned his overseas operations and large-scale trafficking of methylamphetamine between 2006 and 2007, the appeal was denied.

Sentence Reduction

On Thursday, the Court of Appeal replaced the original 2012 sentence with a revised term of 13 years, 7 months, and 15 days.

“The court’s decision means Tony Mokbel will not return to jail for his drug trafficking offences.”

Background

Mokbel had been one of the most influential figures during Melbourne’s gangland conflicts, running an extensive drug empire known as The Company before his 2008 arrest. His legal battles have drawn national attention due to both the scale of his operations and the involvement of the infamous informer Nicola Gobbo.

Author’s summary: The Court of Appeal’s ruling marks a dramatic conclusion to Tony Mokbel’s long legal saga, reducing his sentence and ending his time behind bars.

News.com.au — 2025-11-06