Australia: Maximum security prisoner and his girlfriend charged with drug importation offences

A convicted murderer and crime boss has been charged with directing a massive drug smuggling operation from inside his maximum security prison cell, north-east of Geelong.

Federal police allege Barwon prisoner, George Marrogi, 33, pretended to be speaking on the phone to his lawyer, but instead contacted his girlfriend and directed criminal operations for an alleged drug syndicate.

His girlfriend, Melbourne woman Antonietta Mannella, 28, has been arrested and taken into AFP headquarters.