An Iranian refugee that starred in a 2018 insurance campaign by The Monkeys has been charged with attempting to import $36 million of methamphetamine into Australia.
Hamid Ranjbarain, 37, starred in the heartwarming spot for CGU Insurance titled, “Australian as it Gets”.
In the spot, Ranjbarain’s is shown immigrating to Australia with his wife and young daughter, his battles to assimilate and subsequently starting his own painting business. You can check out B&T’s original reporting when the ad was released last February here.
“CGU celebrates and supports all Australian small businesses and in our latest campaign, we celebrate the amazing contribution migrant small business owners make to Australia,” the ad declared.
It appears the TVC has now been removed from YouTube, however, our dear friends at the Daily Mail have secured the footage. Check it out below:
According to media reports, yesterday Ranjbarain was arrested and charged with conspiracy to import methamphetamine with a street value of $36 million into Sydney.
The Daily Telegraph has reported that a second Iranian national Saeed Bakhtiyari, 27, has also been charged and has been refused bail.
Ranjbarian is due to appear at Parramatta Local Court for a bail hearing some time today.
