Kellett Australia boss Troy Kellett could have been ‘pressured’ to help the Albanian mafia import drugs before falling to his death from shipping container at Outer Harbour Docklands in Adelaide
- Troy Kellett died in an Adelaide shipping yard on July 9
- Police are investigating possible criminal links
A transport company boss who is believed to have died while searching for drugs at a shipping yard could have been pressured into helping the Albanian mafia.
Victorian man Troy Kellett, 43, died after falling from a stack of shipping containers in Adelaide‘s Outer Harbour docklands at about 12.20am on July 9.
Police believe the death was an accident with questions raised why he was on top of the containers, with one source claiming he could have been searching for drugs.
Anonymous law enforcement agents have now revealed an investigation has been launched into whether his death is linked to the Albanian mafia.
The unnamed sources told The Age detectives are probing whether Mr Kellett was ‘hired, directed or pressured’ to assist the criminal organisation.
The news comes following revelations Mr Kellett had sold his business for $10million hours before his death.
Transport business owner Troy Kellett (above) died after falling from a stack of shipping containers in Adelaide’s Harbour docklands at about 12.20am on July 9
Police are investigating whether Mr Kellett was trying to recover drugs from the Albanian mafia when he fell from a stack of shipping containers (above)
The Albanian mafia has reportedly set up a large cocaine market in Australia, its size challenging local gangs’ supplies, by taking advantage of Australian border security.
The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission warned Home Affairs officials about the threat of Albanian organised crime in December 2020.
It said the mafia was able to exploit migration programs and emphasised the ‘need to make Australia less palatable’ to high-threat Albanian criminals.
The commission found the Albanian syndicate was well-versed in the ‘exploitation of Australia’s migration programs as a means to gain entry and remain onshore’.
Daily Mail Australia does not suggest Mr Kellett was involved in criminal activity – only that police are investigating possible links.
Friends and family have flagged strange behaviours from Mr Kellett in the lead-up to his death that make them believe there was more to his ‘fall’.
Mr Kellett was the owner of logistics company Kellett Australia, which he took over from his brother Corey in 2003.
A close friend said the 43-year-old father had taken an ‘urgent’ call to Adelaide on July 8, which he thought was odd.
‘He’s got in the teens of drivers there that could do the run. I don’t see why he’d be there,’ he told the Adelaide Advertiser in the days after Mr Kellett’s death.
‘Why was he on top of a container? And why was he up on top of a container at 12.30 at night?
The Albanian mafia has established a large cocaine market in Australia, reportedly by taking advantage of border security laws (stock image)
Mr Kellett (above) rarely drove trucks and had $10million deposited in his bank account less than 48 hours before his death
‘The only conclusion I can come up with… is that he was hiding.’
Two men were arrested at the scene of Mr Kellett’s death.
One was charged with a firearm offence after police allegedly found an unregistered gun at his property while the other was charged with giving a false address.
The arrests have not been linked to Mr Kellett’s death.
Mr Kellett reportedly received $10million less than 48 hours before his death from an unnamed buyer of his business.
His friend told The Advertiser he found the timing of the deal suspicious.
‘[Troy] said, “I’m sorted, I’m going to wind everything down, I’m going to enjoy retirement”,’ he said.
‘But he didn’t have one day of retirement.
‘The money, millions of dollars, was in his account. We’ve got no idea why he was there [Adelaide] in the first place.’
Troy Kellett reportedly received $10million less than 48 hours before his death from an unnamed buyer of his business, Kellett Australia (above)
