Stuart MacGill, a former Australian spinner, will go to trial over claims of drug importation

Once praised for his incredible leg-spin bowling, former Australian Test cricketer Stuart MacGill is now facing a dark chapter in his life as he gets ready for trial on charges of being involved in a cocaine access deal. The late Shane Warne and the 53-year-old cricketer were contemporaries.

In April 2021, MacGill’s problems started when a group of armed men allegedly abducted him from his North Sydney residence. He subsequently revealed in 2022 on the Australian radio network SEN that the horrific incident, which left him “stripped, beaten, threatened, and dumped,” was ostensibly connected to a drug deal, as Hindu reported. Authorities claimed MacGill tried to import one kilogramme of cocaine, which is valued at more than $300,000 AUD. Stuart MacGill fiercely disputes these allegations.

The former spinner made an appearance in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday; the accusations against him were postponed until April 12. For his suspected involvement in the cocaine importation case, MacGill may receive a hefty prison sentence if found guilty.

For Australia, Stuart MacGill participated in 44 Test matches.

Police investigations have shown a direct connection between Stuart MacGill’s involvement in the cocaine sale and his kidnapping. His ex-wife’s brother was one of the six people who were allegedly engaged in his kidnapping.

As a result of the reported abduction of a man on Sydney’s Lower North Shore in April 2021, officers from the State Crime Command’s Robbery & Serious Crime Squad opened a drug supply investigation in April 2021.

Tuesday, September 12, 2023, saw the arrest of a 52-year-old man at Chatswood Police Station after a long investigation. He was charged with knowing involvement in the supply of a forbidden narcotic in large commercial amounts. According to a statement from the New South Wales Police, “he was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Manly Local Court on Thursday, October 26, 2023.”

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Notably, the former cricket player faced South Africa in 1998 for his Test debut. During his cricket career, MacGill played for Australia in 44 Test matches and three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) between 1998 and 2008, taking 208 and 6 wickets, respectively.