Three Poker Players Appear in Court Over Cocaine Trafficking Charges: FARC Ties?

Three Australian poker players appeared before the Melbourne Chief Magistrate to be formally charged with multiple cocaine trafficking offenses.   

David Saab, 37, Darren Francis Hughes, 27, and Robert Alan Remeeus, 27, are each accused of importing and distribution of cocaine during the Aussie Millions poker tournament.  The three have remained uncooperative.

Blackjackchamp.com noted that all three suspects are known members of the ‘SAAB Squad’: an internationally known group of poker players, sports handicappers, casino hustlers and blackjack players who frequently travel to America and Europe to attend high profile casino tournaments.

Saab took home a US$280,000 first prize at the Asian Poker Tour Philippines 2008 Championship.  He also finished a respectable 46th place at the 39th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2008.

Also from Blackjackchamp.com:

According to anonymous sources involved with the story, strong tries are forming between Australian organized crime networks and Columbian FARC rebels, which are responsible for producing the majority of the world’s illicit cocaine supply. 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.”

- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com