Mark Buddle

The motorcycle gang boss touched down in Darwin and is in the custody of Australian Federal Police (AFP). AFP Assistant Commissioner Nigel Ryan said Buddle was ...

"Organised crime is based on greed and violence, and that will continue for as long as Australians have the appetite to consume illegal drugs," Ryan said. Ryan said the Buddle extradition could mean more Australians on the run could be caught and sent home to face justice. AFP Assistant Commissioner Nigel Ryan said Buddle was escorted on a charter flight to Darwin from Turkey and he will face court today.

The formerly exiled leader of the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang is back on Australian soil, facing charges over cocaine importation.

Each count carries a maximum of life imprisonment. “The Turkish authorities are regional leaders in relation to the fight against organised crime, and we thank them for their efforts.” The formerly exiled leader of the Comanchero bikie gang, Mark Buddle, is back on Australian soil and in the custody of the Australian Federal Police after he was deported from Turkey.

The country's most wanted bikie Mark Buddle has been arrested on Australian soil after he was extradited from Turkey.

Mr Ryan said he was aware of the reports Buddle’s former partner Mel Ter Wisscha was being detained in Turkey but said the AFP would “not be following up” and had “no investigation in relation to the matter”. “When it comes to this alleged offender, we have been patient and thorough, and we have done what the AFP does best – we have used our capability, intelligence and international networks to ensure we have a warrant and a finalised brief of evidence so the alleged offender can face the justice system,” he said. The charges, one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug and one count of conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, each carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Buddle to face two charges of allegedly importing cocaine, with police to allege he used the An0m app.

Ryan said police would allege Buddle used the An0m app, set up by authorities to pose as a safe encryption messaging service. Buddle will face the Darwin local court on Wednesday when federal police will apply to extradite him to Victoria. Comanchero boss Mark Buddle has been arrested in Australia, with police saying they will allege the 37-year-old used the An0m app, a supposed safe encryption messaging service which was actually set up by the FBI.

The Comanchero was arrested at Darwin airport on Wednesday following his deportation from Turkey, six years after leaving the country.

The app was set up by authorities to pose as a safe encryption messaging service for organised crime figures on the dark web. Each offence carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. The 37-year-old listened to the hearing via phone call from the nearby Palmerston police station. In Victoria, three men accused of playing a role in the collection and distribution of the cocaine shipment were arrested across Melbourne between June 4 and 6. In June 2021, five people were arrested in connection to the importation of more than 160 kilograms of cocaine into Melbourne, including the alleged coordinator of the transnational organised crime syndicate, a 42-year-old Sydney man, and four Victorians. Federal police alleged a transnational criminal syndicate had been operating out of Hong Kong and Turkey, using encrypted communications to coordinate the shipment, estimated to be worth more than $40 million, via an onshore criminal syndicate leader in Sydney.

The Comanchero was arrested at Darwin airport on Wednesday following his deportation from Turkey, six years after leaving the country.

At its peak, there were more than 9000 active users globally, including about 1100 in Australia. Police say it has led to dozens of arrests. Each offence carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. The 37-year-old listened to the hearing via phone call from the nearby Palmerston police station. In Victoria, three men accused of playing a role in the collection and distribution of the cocaine shipment were arrested across Melbourne between June 4 and 6. In June 2021, five people were arrested in connection to the importation of more than 160 kilograms of cocaine into Melbourne, including the alleged coordinator of the transnational organised crime syndicate, a 42-year-old Sydney man, and four Victorians. Federal police alleged a transnational criminal syndicate had been operating out of Hong Kong and Turkey, using encrypted communications to coordinate the shipment, estimated to be worth more than $40 million, via an onshore criminal syndicate leader in Sydney.