Police have alleged that 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 arrested by police in Cebu City, Philippines on Wednesday.
He is expected to be extradited to Jakarta to face drug trafficking charges in Indonesia. If convicted, he faces life imprisonment or execution by firing squad.
The Brisbane Broncos have vowed to stand by their star man 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 from Mexico to Indonesia hidden in ceramic floor tiles.
The drugs were reportedly seized by Indonesian authorities, leading to the serious charges against him.
Gregor Haas was arrested last Wednesday in Cebu City in the Philippines (photo) 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 by writing ‘Papa’ on his wristband, along with ‘Chace’ for his late brother, and linked them after scoring a try against Newcastle
Philippine authorities have stated that Haas is alleged to have collaborated with the Sinaloa drug cartel.
“The drugs were seized by Indonesian authorities, who later discovered through testimonies of arrested drug couriers that the packages had been shipped by Haas from Guadalajara, Mexico,” Philippine authorities said.
Indonesian officials have accused Haas of smuggling more than five kilograms of methamphetamine into the country on December 11, 2023, hidden in floor tiles.
The Sinaloa Cartel, also known as the Guzmán-Zambada Organization or the Pacific Cartel, is a notorious international crime syndicate based in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico.
It is one of Mexico’s oldest, largest and most violent criminal groups, retaining strong influence despite the arrests of founder Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman and his son.
The dramatic arrest of Haas Snr was picked up by Philippine authorities on Wednesday
Payne Haas is pictured with his father at the 2019 NRL Dally M Awards
Philippine Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco called the coordinated effort between local, Indonesian and Interpol investigators “a major achievement of the BI.” [Bureau of Immigration] in its continued efforts to flush out wanted foreign criminals in the country.”
However, the Philippine government has not yet confirmed whether it will allow Haas’s extradition without a guarantee that he will not face the death penalty if convicted.
Haas is currently being held in Manila pending deportation proceedings.
ANU international law professor Donald Rothwell suggested Haas could be used as a negotiating tool in the Philippines’ ongoing efforts to secure the return of Mary Jane Veloso, who has been on death row in Indonesia for more than a decade.
In 2010, Veloso traveled to Indonesia under the pretext of working as a maid, but was caught with heroin in her luggage. She claims recruiters hid the drugs in her bag without her knowledge, which is central to her plea for freedom.
Her case has received widespread media attention in the Philippines, and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is under pressure to negotiate her 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 will support Haas through diplomatic channels
Rothwell also said Haas could challenge his extradition in Philippine courts, potentially delaying Indonesia’s efforts.
The last Australians executed in Indonesia were Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran in 2015.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterated Australia’s opposition to the death penalty on Sunday.
“We will continue to make appropriate diplomatic representations,” he said.
“One of the things the Australian government is doing is standing up for Australian citizens and taking appropriate action through diplomatic channels. And we’re going to do that again this time.’
