A businessman who says he was threatened into taking part in a drug-trafficking conspiracy allegedly offered to go overseas and keep watch while his alleged co-conspirators met with undercover police.
They did not know the men were undercover when meeting them at a luxury hotel in Serbia’s capital Belgrade in January 2018.
The undercover operators had represented themselves as a criminal group who had found a missing shipping container carrying close to a tonne of pure cocaine and were seeking a reward for its return.
When prior meetings had run into problems, David Campbell, arrested in Serbia with a gun on him, allegedly offered to keep watch on the undercover agent he thought was a criminal figure named Ivan.
“Up to you but I’m willing to blow his f***ing head off if he doesn’t comply,” Campbell allegedly texted a higher-ranking syndicate figure, known as “Governor” among other names.
The 53-year-old is on trial alongside Tristan Waters, 40, after they were eventually extradited from Serbia, accused of conspiring to import and possess a border controlled drug.
Waters has pleaded guilty to the attempted possession but denies involvement in the alleged importation.
Campbell has pleaded not guilty to both charges.
The drugs were removed from steel beams inside a shipping container at Sydney’s Port Botany, allegedly imported by one of Campbell’s companies.
Campbell has told the court he was handling the import on behalf of a client and was threatened into participating in the drug conspiracies.
Crown prosecutor Sean Flood told the jury on Tuesday Campbell’s testimony was inconsistent and crafted to fit with other evidence before the jury.
“He lied to you,” Mr Flood said of Campbell’s evidence, delivered over several days last week.
He told the jury to reject his story about how he came into possession of a gun as an example.
Campbell’s evidence, effectively, was that a stranger approached him at a cafe in Serbia, warning him it was a dangerous place for tourists, advising he should have a gun, Mr Flood said.
However, text messages and group chats on encrypted devices that have formed a large part of the prosecution's case showed Campbell earlier reminding others “don’t forget my pop-pop”.
Waters had then allegedly arranged a weapon.
“Mate, can you get me a piece? Just a little hand one that my mate can sleep with tonight,” he allegedly texted an associate.
Campbell did not have a justifiable reason to believe threats he claimed were made against him would be actioned, Mr Flood said, or for not reporting the threats to police.
However, if the jury was satisfied he had acted under duress, Mr Flood urged them to consider the source of the threats.
“The threats he received came from the same people he voluntarily was working with in relation to the importation,” Mr Flood said.
Lawyers for Waters and Campbell will commence their closing submissions on Wednesday.
