Police have claimed Gregor Johann Haas, the father of NRL stars Payne and Klese Haas, was involved with a notorious Mexican drug cartel before his arrest in the Philippines last week.
Gregor Johann Haas, 46, was detained by police in Cebu City, Philippines, on Wednesday.
He is expected to be extradited to Jakarta to face drug trafficking charges in Indonesia. If he is convicted, he could face life in prison or be executed by firing squad.
The Brisbane Broncos have vowed to support their star prop Payne, while Gold Coast Titans forward Klese sent a message of support to his father after scoring a try against Newcastle on Saturday.
Philippine police have revealed that Haas is accused of shipping methamphetamine to Indonesia from Mexico, hidden inside ceramic tiles.
The drugs were allegedly seized by Indonesian authorities, leading to serious charges against them.
Gregor Haas was arrested last Wednesday in Cebu City, Philippines (pictured) and charged with drug trafficking in Indonesia.
He is the father of Brisbane Broncos superstar Payne Haas (pictured) and his younger brother Klese Haas, who plays for the Gold Coast Titans.
Klese Haas paid tribute to his father on Saturday, writing “Dad” on his wrist along with “Chace” for his late brother, uniting them after scoring a try against Newcastle.
Philippine authorities have stated that Haas allegedly worked with the Sinaloa drug cartel.
“The drugs were confiscated by Indonesian authorities, who later discovered, through testimonies obtained from arrested drug couriers, that the packages were sent by Haas from Guadalajara, Mexico,” Philippine authorities said.
Indonesian officials accused Haas of attempting to smuggle more than five kilograms of methamphetamine into the country on December 11, 2023, hidden in tiles.
The Sinaloa Cartel, also known as the Guzmán-Zambada Organization or the Pacific Cartel, is a notorious international criminal syndicate based in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico.
It is one of the oldest, largest and most violent criminal groups in Mexico and maintains a strong influence despite the arrests of its founder Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán and his son.
The dramatic arrest of Haas Sr. was captured by Philippine authorities on Wednesday.
Payne Haas is pictured with his father at the 2019 NRL Dally M Awards
Philippine Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco hailed the coordinated effort between local, Indonesian and Interpol investigators as “a major achievement of the BI (Bureau of Immigration) in its continuing effort to expel wanted foreign criminals from the country.” “.
However, the Philippine government has not yet confirmed whether it will allow Haas to be extradited without assurances that he will not face the death penalty if convicted.
Haas is currently detained in Manila, awaiting deportation proceedings.
ANU international law professor Donald Rothwell suggested that Haas could be used as a negotiating tool in the Philippines’ current attempts to secure the return of Mary Jane Veloso, who has been on death row in Indonesia for more than one of each.
In 2010, Veloso traveled to Indonesia under the pretext of working as a domestic worker, but was caught with heroin in her luggage. She claims that the recruiters hid the drugs in her purse without her knowledge, which is central to her request for freedom.
His case has attracted significant media attention in the Philippines, and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. faces pressure to negotiate his return.
Indonesian authorities are working to have Haas (pictured after his arrest) extradited to Jakarta to face criminal charges.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured with Souths co-owner Russell Crowe) said Australia would provide support to Haas through diplomatic channels.
Rothwell also said Haas could challenge his extradition in Philippine courts, which could delay Indonesia’s efforts.
The last Australians executed in Indonesia were Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran in 2015.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterated Australia’s opposition to the death penalty.
“We will continue to carry out diplomatic efforts in an appropriate manner,” he said.
‘One of the things the Australian government does is defend Australian citizens, make appropriate representations through diplomatic channels. And this time we will do it again.”
