Simon Khalil has Sydney home permanently confiscated by AFP over WA cocaine importation hidden in tyres

A convicted drug smuggler who attempted to import millions of dollars in cocaine into WA hidden in luxury car tyres has had his family home permanently confiscated by police. Simon Khalil was sentenced to a minimum of three years behind bars in April for his role in the foiled 2022 plot involving 56 kilograms of the drug hidden in four Mercedes-Benz wheels sent from Switzerland. The 57-year-old, who resides in Sydney, had flown into Perth to help his son with moving the drugs - but authorities had already intercepted the shipment and replaced it with an inert substance before releasing it. When Khalil was charged, officers from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce launched an investigation into his finances. In May 2023, while awaiting trial over the cocaine importation, Khalil transferred the ownership of his long-term home in Sydney, into his partner’s name without receiving any money in return. The transaction over the $1.8 million home drew the attention of investigators. They also examined financial records which showed that between July, 2017 and October, 2019 the couple had paid almost $178,000 towards servicing the property’s mortgage, an amount exceeding what the couple had earned according to their tax records. After Khalil was charged, the AFP applied to have his home taken off him under the Proceeds of Crime Act, which has been successfully ordered by the District Court of Western Australia. “This is another reminder that crime doesn’t pay,” AFP Commander Jason Kennedy said. “We know that people feel the confiscation of assets is as bad, if not worse, as going to jail. “Removing illegal wealth from criminals ensures they can’t enjoy a life of luxury at the community’s expense and prevents the bankrolling of further criminal activity.” The proceeds from the sale of the home will be placed in the Commonwealth’s Confiscated Assets Account which is then reinvested into the community by funding crime prevention measures, diversion programs or other law enforcement activities. Earlier this year, the District Court was told Khalil and his son had become hooked on drugs at a young age. Brendon Khalil, had been using cocaine heavily in 2015 but was buying it on credit from a Lebanese syndicate in NSW, and he quickly ran into trouble. When the debt mounted up, he agreed to sell 1kg for the gang, spending a year in jail after unwittingly handing it to an undercover cop. That added an extra $30,000 to the debt pile, with the syndicate blaming him for the loss of the drugs. To settle his debts, he agreed to help the cocaine shipment from Switzerland which ultimately saw his handed a minimum prison term of seven years.