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The father of star Brisbane Bronco Payne Haas has been arrested in the Philippines, accused of smuggling more than 5 kilograms of methamphetamine into Indonesia late last year.
Gregor Johann Haas, 46, was arrested in Cebu City on Wednesday, according to local media reports and is now being held in the capital, Manila.
Indonesia's national narcotics agency is seeking his extradition, with a spokesman saying Haas is accused of smuggling more than 5 kilograms of methamphetamine into Indonesia late last year.
Philippines police said Haas is a high profile suspect allegedly linked to a Mexican cartel and the US Drug Enforcement Agency was part of the investigation.
Indonesia National Narcotics Agency spokesman Brigadier General Sulistyo Pudjo Hartono, said his country was working with others, including Australia, to investigate the network Haas is alleged to be part of.
"Hass sent 5.8 kilograms of methamphetamine to Indonesia in December 2023, the Narcotics Agency seized it," he said.
"We are now working with other countries to investigate the drug network, including the Australian Federal Police.
"But what's important is he committed a crime in Indonesia's jurisdiction, and if there's later evidence that he committed crimes in other countries, he still must serve his punishment in Indonesia first.
"The Indonesian National Narcotics Agency sent an Interpol red notice to the Philippines requesting Gregor's arrest because we have evidence that there is a drug network, but he had already fled Indonesian using a fake identity. We then discovered he was in the Philippines."
Indonesian prosecutors can push for the death penalty in drug smuggling cases.
Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Saturday the government would assist Haas where it could.
"We will provide all of the consular assistance that he needs at this time," he said.
Brisbane coach Kevin Walters, speaking after the 13-12 win over Manly on Friday night, said the Broncos were "supporting Payne in every way we can".
"Payne's a very strong individual and his family is as well. A lot of people probably don't understand or realise the person Payne is," Walters said.
"He's a tremendous guy, tremendous family person and in this moment in time that he's going through we will get around him in every way we can to support him and his family. That's all we can do.
"Payne's just such a great person of integrity … and what he's doing with his family even before this incident is something we need to be very respectful of."
Haas played a crucial role for the Broncos in their one-point win over Manly during Magic Round on Friday.
After being helped from the field — not being able to put weight on his left leg — in the second half, Haas returned in the final minutes to produce some important hit-ups which helped Brisbane secure the win.
Payne's close friend and teammate Pat Carrigan summed up the way the Australian prop and five-time Broncos player of the year was regarded.
"Everyone knows what Payne Haas can do as a football player. Me and him are really close, we're probably like family now the two of us," Carrigan said.
"His resilience and his caring, he's the first one to check on all the boys and then there's the load he carries willingly for us as a club, but also his family is pretty special.
"If there were more like Payne Haas in the world I think it would be a better place."
Payne's mother Joan Taufua is in jail facing manslaughter charges after a car she was allegedly driving killed three people in 2022. Payne has been a rock for his siblings, including two of his younger brothers who he cares for.
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ABC/AAP