Mafia-linked Aussie businessman farewelled

A host of underworld identities have descended on Adelaide for the funeral of a colourful mafia-linked businessman previously accused of attempting to import one of Australia’s largest cocaine imports.

Italian-born mechanic and business owner Carmello Loprete died on October 27 following a battle with cancer. He was 66.

A crowd of men and women, some of whom are understood to be gangland figures, have gathered to farewell Mr Loprete – who owned Carmelo Auto Repairs in Beverley for more than two decades – at a quiet service at Walter Loxton Chapel in Flinders Park.

Federal and South Australian police are also in attendance, keeping an eye on proceedings.

Mr Loprete became widely known for his conspiring with the Calabrian Mafia, one of the world’s most powerful organised crime groups, and three other Australian men in an attempt to smuggle half a tonne of cocaine from South America to Melbourne, via Italy, between 2002 and 2004.

The drug was alleged to have a street value between $35-50m.

Mr Loprete and his accomplices – Nicola Ciconte, Michael Calleja and Vincenzo Medici – were all tried in absentia after the Italian government failed to extradite them from Australia.

Prosecutors alleged the four men were linked to the multimillion-dollar smuggling network that stretched from Colombia through to Spain and Italy.

They relied on evidence from a turncoat to corroborate phone taps and photographic and video evidence of the group, who were described by prosecutors as being “leading crime figures” in Australia.

Mr Ciconte, who was considered the “Mr Big” of the group, died in 2013 while on the run in Cambodia.

The other three were found guilty in Italy in their absence and received sentences between 15-25 years.

Mr Loprete’s family were never accused of any wrongdoing.

In a funeral notice, they described him as being “cherished and adored” by his family and “lovingly remembered” by his sisters and their families.

“Carmelo will always be remembered by all his family and friends in Australia and Italy,” the notice read.