National

Comanchero boss deported from Turkey

By AAP Newswire

Aug 3, 2022

Comanchero bikie gang chief Mark Buddle — Bikie gang chief Mark Buddle was arrested in Darwin following his deportation from Turkey. -AAP Image

Comanchero boss Mark Buddle has been arrested in Australia after fleeing the country in 2016.

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Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Crime, Nigel Ryan said the 37-year-old fugitive was arrested in Darwin on Wednesday, following his deportation from Turkey.

He is accused of importing more than 160kg of cocaine into Melbourne in May last year and will face court in Darwin on Wednesday.

"The AFP was well placed to respond to the man's return due to the progress of an ongoing AFP criminal investigation, and the AFP's strong global law enforcement and intelligence networks," Mr Ryan told reporters in Canberra.

He revealed for the first time an AFP task force is targeting organised crime figures overseas.

The charges stem from Operation Ironside, which monitored communications on an encrypted network criminals thought was secure but was monitored by the AFP and the US FBI.

More than 250 people have been charged in Australia from the operation.

No charges have been brought in the US, where privacy laws prevented arrests.

Lawyers in South Australia representing clients charged under Operation Ironside have recently argued evidence obtained from the encrypted communications should be excluded.