He served nearly two decades behind bars, escaped the country with a wig and a yacht, and was betrayed by his own lawyer. But now, Tony Mokbel is back smiling, silent, and sliding into freedom in a matte black Mercedes.

 

A Smiling Exit After 18 Years

The Melbourne underworld figure and convicted drug lord, Tony Mokbel, walked free from the Victorian Supreme Court of Appeal on Friday afternoon, flashing a beaming smile and basking in the cheers of his supporters. It was a scene as surreal as it was controversial. For many watching, the grin said it all Tony was back.

 

Despite being bombarded with loaded questions from a massive media scrum, including one about buying another yacht (a nod to his notorious 2006 escape), Mokbel remained silent. His only response? A confident smirk, a short walk through a police cordon, and a getaway in a matte black Mercedes-Benz, headed for his sister’s home in Viewbank.

 

The Lawyer X Scandal Unwinds

Mokbel’s release was made possible after a major development in one of Australia’s biggest legal scandals. His former lawyer, Nicola Gobbo—known as Lawyer X—had also been acting as a secret police informant. Gobbo had provided Victoria Police with sensitive information on her own clients, including Mokbel.

 

The Court of Appeal agreed that Mokbel had been set up, paving the way for his bail and giving him a strong chance to overturn his three drug trafficking convictions in a future appeal.

 

A Media Frenzy Like No Other

His release caused a stir not seen since the George Pell hearings. Crowds gathered outside Melbourne’s Lonsdale Street court as journalists, photographers, and onlookers tried to capture a glimpse of the man who had once dominated headlines during Melbourne’s Underbelly War a 12-year gangland saga that left 36 dead.

 

Inside the courtroom, gasps filled the air as the decision to release him on bail was read out. Supporters shook his hand, some even leaving the court in a flashy orange Lamborghini.

 

Freedom, But With Conditions

Mokbel’s freedom doesn’t come without strings. He must wear a GPS ankle bracelet, report daily to local police, and abide by a strict curfew between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. His current sentence—originally 30 years—was reduced to 26 years with a 20-year non-parole period. If he wins even one of his remaining appeals, he could be eligible for complete release.

 

The Past Still Haunts

Tony Mokbel, 59, has a notorious history. His 2006 escape from Australia—on a yacht named Edwena, with a Greek crewwas the stuff of cinematic crime dramas. He lived in Greece under a false identity and a bad wig until his arrest in 2007.

 

In 2012, he was jailed over major drug operations including Quills, Magnum, Plutonium, and Orbital, which tied him to the trafficking of large volumes of meth and MDMA.

 

The court heard that Gobbo’s manipulation likely influenced his decision to plead guilty. Justice Osborn even remarked that without Gobbo’s interference, Mokbel may not have faced the stiff 20-year sentence handed down under Magnum.

 

From Underworld Kingpin to Courtroom Star

In court, Mokbel was treated almost like a celebrity. Known for his connections, money, and once being one of the most wanted men in Australia, his presence still commands attention. His near-fatal stabbing in prison in 2019 only added to his mythos. And now, he’s back in the public eye smiling, silent, and once again, unpredictable.

 

What’s Next for Tony?

Mokbel previously shared his first wishes upon release: to see his children and visit his mother’s grave. His legal team remains confident about overturning the convictions. If that happens, it won’t just mark a legal victory, it could be one of the most dramatic comebacks in Australian criminal history.

 

But prosecutors aren’t convinced. They argue his past actions especially the 2006 escape, make him a flight risk. Still, his million-dollar bail was secured, and this time, his sister-in-law isn’t on the hook.

 

Final Thoughts

Tony Mokbel’s story is far from over. As he continues to fight for a full exoneration, the public watches closely. Whether you see him as a criminal mastermind or a victim of a corrupted legal system, one thing is certain Mokbel knows how to make an exit.

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