Ex-Aussie cricketer found guilty of smuggling drugs

Former Australian cricketer Stuart MacGill has been found guilty of taking part in the supply of cocaine in Sydney.

The 54-year-old was facing allegation of playing part in supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug.

Evidence presented showed that MacGill’s regular drug supplier and his brother-in-law Marino Sotiropoulos had arranged an exchange of $330,000 for a kilogram of cocaine.

The former cricketer reportedly arranged a meeting at his restaurant, but he denied of having any clue of the deal.

A jury in the NSW District Court heard that while MacGill’s involvement was limited to the introduction, the dealer also took part in two other alleged supplies, including one in which he handed over a vacuum-sealed bag of A4 paper instead of cash to Sotiropoulos’s associates.

MacGill pleaded not guilty and his legal counsel cast doubt on Person A’s credibility, arguing his conduct was deceptive and dishonest in multiple respects.

Though, despite hours-long deliberations, MacGill wasn’t found guilty of the charge of knowingly taking part in the smuggling.

But he was found guilty of an alternative charge of knowingly taking part in the supply of a prohibited drug — without the large commercial supply element.

MacGill made little reaction in the dock when he learned the verdict and left court without making any comment.