A Sydney council will investigate the existence of a tunnel said to run under John Ibrahim’s eastern suburbs home and confirms it has never approved such a structure.
‘Waverley Council has not received or approved a development application for a tunnel [from the home] in George Street, Dover Heights,’ a council spokesperson said.
‘This matter has only just been brought to council’s attention and accordingly it is considering what action, if any, should be taken.
‘If such a tunnel does exist and is contained exclusively on private land, the council may merely seek structural certification and an application for a building certificate.
‘At this stage, no formal complaint has been received concerning the alleged tunnel.’
The exit to a tunnel (pictured) seemingly coming out of the multi-million dollar clifftop mansion of John Ibrahim is hidden behind tangled vines, overhanging trees and up a steep and rocky incline
The door into the hidden passageway lies on public land, just metres from a popular boardwalk along the rugged coastline at Dover Heights, in Sydney’s lavish eastern suburbs
Ibrahim (pictured), a nightclub owner in Sydney’s Kings Cross, rose to fame after his portrayal in the 2010 TV series Underbelly: The Golden Mile
The tunnel is believed to start inside the garage of Ibrahim’s waterside mansion and run under the entirety of the clifftop building before exiting onto public land.
The exit lies just metres from a popular public boardwalk.
Up a steep and rocky incline and hidden behind overhanging vines, to the thousands trekking along the boardwalk daily the door would be almost impossible to spot.
But despite its discreet location it did not escape the eyes of police, who allegedly found it during a raid on the former nightclub baron’s property on August 8.
Following the international operation targeting an alleged $810 million drug ring, the rumours of a tunnel leading out of the Kings Cross identity’s home began to surface.
And after venturing off the beaten track to inspect the alleged ‘secret tunnel’, Daily Mail Australia discovered what appears to be the hidden exit to a passageway along Ibrahim’s home.
While it’s not clear what the former nightclub owner uses the tunnel for, monitoring the exit from above is a large CCTV camera.
John Ibrahim’s girlfriend Sarah Budge was recently charged with possessing a loaded handgun
The exit to the tunnel sits along the wall of Ibrahim’s mansion, disguised behind trees and vines
While it’s not clear what the former nightclub owner uses the tunnel for, monitoring the exit from above is a large CCTV camera (pictured)
Near the exit to the tunnel lay a pink Sheridan towel, a broken glass bowl and other rubbish
A pair of clover-leaf inspired novelty sunglasses also sat near the door, which appeared to have been used during recent weeks
Near the door lay a variety of items including a Sheridan towel, broken glass bowls and a pair of clover-leaf inspired novelty sunglasses.
Pictures taken during the raids show police lifting up heavy mats and peering down into what appears to be a hole alongside Ibrahim’s pool.
An inside source confirmed to The Daily Telegraph the tunnel at the property was built in 2007 when Ibrahim installed a pool.
It was suggested the passageway doubles up as a quick way for guests to leave and gives access to the pool’s filters.
In his autobiography Last King of the Cross, Ibrahim might have referred to a potential unknown exit route from his home which helps him to avoid attention.
‘The police and the media are all over my s***, I have to use different ways to leave my house and make phone calls because the surveillance is constant,’ an extract reads.
The alleged secret tunnel was allegedly discovered by police during raids at the property in August
Police officers look down from the pool onto the alleged tunnel during raids on Ibrahim’s property
An Australian Federal Policeman leads a trained sniffer dog off the boardwalk and in search of the path during the raids in August
Police scour the public land that runs alongside Ibrahim’s clifftop mansion in Dover Heights
There is no mention of the alleged tunnel in the paperwork for extensive renovations Ibrahim has submitted to the council for approval on several occasions.
A spokesman for the Australian Federal Police refused to comment.
Ibrahim, whose life in Kings Cross featured in the 2010 TV drama series Underbelly: The Golden Mile, wasn’t charged during the raids across Sydney, The Netherlands and Dubai.
However his brothers Michael and Fadi were arrested in the United Arab Emirates and remain behind bars in a Dubai prison, awaiting extradition back home to Australia.
Ibrahim’s son Daniel, 26, and girlfriend Sarah Budge, 27, were both arrested and charged in Sydney before later being released on bail.
John Ibrahim’s clifftop home at Dover Heights was raided by Australian Federal Police on August 8.
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