Poker Pros In $4 Million Cocaine Bust

A group of poker and gambling pros are currently behind bars in an Australian jail after being accused of smuggling 21 kilograms of cocaine into Australia on January 17th.
Allegedly, the cocaine worth around $4.2 million was imported from Vancouver, Canada to Sydney, Australia in machine parts before being discovered by Customs and Border Protection Officers. Allowing the illicit operation to carry on undisturbed, David Saab and Robert Reemeus then passed the drugs onto Darren Hughes a week later before officials swooped in on the drugs deal.
Both David “zanderfish” Saab, 37, and Robert “remo_04″ Reemeus, 27, are poker pros who, along with some other notable names form a team of Australian poker pros known as “The SAAB Squad.”
The group’s Facebook page has the following description: “The SAAB Squad is a team of exceptional poker players from Australia that will be traveling the globe in search of success on the felt. The Squad focuses on learning the game, living the dream, and loving every minute… Well except for those times when we can all hate the game!”
Out of the SAAB Squad members, only David Saab and Robert Reemeus are involved in the drug bust.
David “zanderfish” Saab’s poker achievements in the past include victory at the 2008 Asian Poker Tour $2.5k buy-in event in Manilla for $280,000. A couple of months later, Saab wearing a blue Superman t-shirt placed 46th in the WSOP Main Event for $135,100. He is currently showing $550,720 in live career earnings.
 
Alternatively, Robert “remo_04″ Reemeus’ poker profits have mainly come online, where he has won around $44,338, most of it accounted for by success at Full Tilt‘s $75k Guaranteed for $39,015 last February.
According to news source blackjackchamp.com, the men may have formed criminal connections whilst visiting various poker venues around the world. The news source goes on to state:
“A source close to the investigation commented that “the SAAB Squad plays high stakes games in underground casinos all over the world. They rub shoulders with some unsavory international organized crime figures from every corner of the world. You won’t find priests or librarians discussing blackjack strategy at 3 in the morning in those places.”
If found guilty, Saab, Reemus and Hughes could face up to a maximum of 25 years in prison. The court date is currently set for May this year.