Raymond Grady Stansel Explained

Raymond Grady Stansel Jr. was an American drug smuggler who faked his death in 1974 and lived in Australia for more than forty years.^[1]

Stansel was arrested in Florida in 1974 with 12-tons of marijuana. On the first day of his trial, his lawyer told the judge he had drowned in a diving accident in Nicaragua.^[2] Stansel was never found. In 2015, an American expat in Australia named Dennis "Lee" Lafferty died in a traffic accident. His widow revealed that Lafferty was Stansel.

Stansel lived in far north Queensland, Australia and was a respected member of the Daintree community. He operated Daintree River Cruise Centre for over 28 years, giving crocodile tours.^{[3] [4]}

Notes and References

1. Plucinska . Joanna . Alleged Drug Smuggler Who Faked Death in 1974 Dies for Real . Time . 2015-06-23 . 2020-05-21.
2. Web site: Traffic accident in Australia ends 40-year-old mystery in Florida . Tampa Bay Times . 2015-07-03 . 2020-05-21.
3. Web site: Late Qld tourism stalwart's secret life . Brisbane Times . 2015-06-23 . 2020-05-21.
4. Web site: Kyriacou . Kate . Guppy . Damon . Tourism pioneer was US drug fugitive . The Courier-Mail . 2015-06-23 . 2020-05-21.