Elias Herodotou, the man convicted for the 2007 Crown Casino murder, has been caught attempting to smuggle drugs into Barwon Prison. The 41-year-old is now facing additional charges following the incident.
Details of the Incident
Corrections Victoria officers discovered the contraband during a routine search at the maximum-security prison in Lara. Herodotou was found in possession of a quantity of illicit drugs, believed to be methamphetamine and cannabis, concealed on his person.
The discovery was made after a visitor left the prison, prompting a search of Herodotou. The drugs were allegedly intended for distribution within the prison population.
Herodotou's Criminal History
Herodotou was sentenced to 26 years in prison for the murder of 30-year-old father-of-two, Brendan Keilar, outside the Crown Casino in August 2007. Keilar was fatally stabbed after a confrontation with Herodotou and his associates.
The murder was captured on CCTV, showing Herodotou and two others attacking Keilar in a car park. Herodotou was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 26 years, with a non-parole period of 18 years.
New Charges and Legal Proceedings
Following the drug discovery, Herodotou has been charged with trafficking a drug of dependence and possessing a drug of dependence. He is scheduled to appear before the Geelong Magistrates' Court later this month.
Corrections Victoria has stated that it will take a zero-tolerance approach to drugs in prisons. A spokesperson said, 'Any attempt to introduce contraband into our prisons is taken extremely seriously. We will continue to work with Victoria Police to hold offenders to account.'
Impact on Prison Security
The incident has raised concerns about prison security and the ongoing issue of drugs in correctional facilities. Barwon Prison, which houses some of Victoria's most dangerous criminals, has faced scrutiny over the effectiveness of its contraband detection methods.
Authorities are investigating how Herodotou obtained the drugs and whether any staff members were involved. The prison is expected to review its security protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Herodotou's latest charges add to his already lengthy sentence, potentially extending his time behind bars. He is currently serving his sentence at Barwon Prison.
