The boss of the Comanchero bikie gang in Australia, Mark Buddle, was arrested on Friday in the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
According to reports by The Daily Telegraph, Buddle and members of his entourage were raided at gunpoint at home by Turkish and Turkish Cypriot police officers posing as the FBI.
The self-declared TRNC deported the Australian fugitive to the Turkish capital on Sunday where he is currently being processed before an expected handover to Australia.
Australian authorities are aware of the transfer to Ankara and are working on his extradition.
NSW Shadow Police Minister, Walt Secord said in a statement that the extradition could be a “lengthy process” but “it will send a strong and clear signal to other gang members that they cannot escape overseas and they will be held to account for their activities in Australia.”
In a statement made by the interior ministry of the self-declared republic, it was revealed that Buddle had been staying in the TRNC since last August, with residence granted due to his “high income”.
However early last week, the republic’s police directorate declared Buddle’s presence was “inconvenient in terms of public peace and security”.
While seemingly on course for a return to Australian authorities, both police and underworld sources say the battle is “a long way from over”, citing the TRNC’s reputation for being a location where underworld figures can be arrested, only to then slip through the cracks.
“This is a long way from over, but the net is closing in on Buddle,” a senior Australian law enforcement officer told The Daily Telegraph.
Buddle, the Commander of the Australian arm of the Comanchero bikie club, fled Australia in 2016 when he was wanted for questioning over the murder of Armaguard security worker Gary Allibon.
The 44-year-old initially moved to Dubai, where he set up a new life with his partner Melanie Ter Wisscha, however, was forced to leave last year after a video surfaced showing him fighting with tourists by a resort pool.
Since then he has been moving from country to country, including Greece, Iraq, Turkey and Lebanon.
SOURCE: The Daily Telegraph, Cyprus Mail
