"Aussie Cartel" Made Up of Bikies, Triad & Middle-Eastern Gang Members Responsible for 1/3 of All Drugs Imported into Australia

 "Socalj" for Borderland Beat

Allegedly includes founder Hakan Ayik (center), living in Turkey. Former Comancheros' President Mark Buddle and Hells Angels' head Angelo Pandeli.

Nine Australians who organized themselves into a $1.5 billion drug-running 'Aussie Cartel' were responsible for one-third of all drug importations into Australia, intelligence agencies allege. They are also allegedly demanding taxes from others importing drugs.

Michael Phelan, the head of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission said the nine men were designated 'priority' targets because of their alleged criminal activities at Australia's borders.

Members of the cartel were drawn from bikie gangs and Middle Eastern crime syndicates and described as 'the baddest of the bad' by Mr. Phelan. The intelligence boss indicated the cartel included senior members of Hell's Angels and Comanchero bikie gangs who were formerly bitter rivals but now shared information on supply routes and ways to smuggle drugs through Australia's borders. 'They share any corrupt networks they may have here to swap information to each other,' Mr Phelan said.

Hakan Ayik known as the 'Facebook Gangster', living in Turkey.

Australians involved allegedly include Hakan Ayik known as the 'Facebook gangster', living in Turkey and accused of running the cartel; Mr. Phelan declined to identify the members of the cartel. But state and federal policing agency sources say they include Comanchero boss Mark Buddle (who lives in the United Arab Emirates), Hells Angels boss Angelo Pandeli (in Greece and UAE), Triad-linked figure Michael Tu (Hong Kong), George Dib (Lebanon) and Hakan Arif (Turkey). An Adelaide bikie boss recently deported from Singapore and a Sydney logistics, port, and transportation expert are also cartel members.

The cartel is believed to be behind major drug importations into Australia in recent years, including $1 billion of meth into Western Australia in 2017 and another into Melbourne early in 2020. The findings from the classified operation, Project Brunello allege the mid-level Qantas manager is connected to the Comanchero motorcycle gang and linked to Hakan Ayik, the head of an international drug cartel.

Former Comanchero Outlaw Motorcycle Leader Mark Buddle has been Exiled in United Arab Emirates 

Cocaine and meth prices are climbing because of a tax being imposed by the shadowy group known as 'The Commission' run by an exiled bikie, police claim. Exiled leader of the Comanchero Outlaw Motorcycle gang Mark Buddle is allegedly demanding a tax of up to $50,000 for each kilogram of illicit drugs smuggled from overseas into Sydney. NSW Police said in the last few months cocaine has jumped up by $50 a gram to $300 - which they suspect could be because of the bikie's tax.

An intelligence report from July 2020 claims the manager 'recruited' criminals to Qantas for the purpose of importing narcotics into Australia. Up to 150 Qantas staff including a mid-level manager have criminal links, a federal intelligence operation has found.

Mr. Phelan said encrypted phone apps such as Ciphr and Anom were useful in helping the cartel establish itself but also helped track their activities. He also indicated the Commission would 'not play fair' in hunting down members of the cartel and their associates. Special extradition procedures and pressuring family and friends in Australia believed to be assisting the cartel would be targeted by the Commission, he said. Proposed laws to tighten the grant of security IDs to those who work at Australia's airport and maritime borders, and to allow intelligence agencies to 'pierce' encryption technology used in criminal activity, remain before Parliament.

Sources

Daily Mail

Daily Mail

Sydney Morning Herald

Daily Mail