Extradition of Australia's most wanted man, alleged cocaine smuggler Mostafa Baluch, delayed
Alleged cocaine smuggler Mostafa Baluch will spend at least one more night in a Queensland jail cell, after police found him this morning hiding in the boot of a Mercedes-Benz carried in a container, trying to cross the New South Wales-Queensland border.
Mr Baluch was wanted over an alleged $270 million cocaine smuggling operation and had been on the run for two weeks after allegedly skipping bail when breaking free from his ankle security bracelet.
The 33-year-old was caught travelling to Queensland at Tweed Heads about 1am this morning in a sting involving AFP, NSW and Queensland police.
READ MORE: How alleged drug smuggler Mostafa Baluch got caught
Mostafa Baluch has been arrested at the Queensland/NSW border. NSW Police
NSW Organised Crime Squad detectives have travelled to Queensland to seek Mr Baluch's extradition.
9News reporter Mackenzie Colahan said Mr Baluch's extradition hearing has been bumped to tomorrow.
Outside the Gold Coast court where Mr Baluch had been scheduled to appear, his lawyer met a scrum of reporters but he refused to answer any questions.
"It would be inappropriate for me to make a statement while (the case) is still before the court," he said.
Police can be seen approaching the shipping container in bodyworn footage released this afternoon. Queensland Police
The 46-year-old male truck driver allegedly carrying the container, the Mercedes-Benz and Mr Baluch has also been arrested.
Police seized the truck, which will undergo forensic and compliance-related examinations.
The Yowie Bay man was taken to Grafton Police Station, where he was charged with do act intending to pervert the course of justice.
He was refused bail to appear at Grafton Local Court this afternoon.
Baluch was put into the back of a cop car after two weeks on the run and an attempt to cross state borders. Queensland Police
On the trail of Baluch
There had been speculation Mr Baluch had fled the country in a private jet from Bankstown Airport in Sydney.
But last week NSW Police said they were closing in on Mr Baluch, following a series of raids on houses in Potts Hill and Yagoona which were linked to the runaway and his associates.
Police arrested Mr Baluch at his waterfront Bayview mansion in June on steroid charges but he was suspected to be involved in the biggest-ever plot to allegedly import cocaine into Sydney, including 900 kilograms seized off Ecuador.
He was granted local court bail, in an application opposed by police, and walked from jail after forfeiting his $4 million property and agreeing to wear an electronic monitoring anklet, which he is alleged to have cut off before going on the run.
Acting on information, Queensland Police stopped the truck as it tried to cross the border and searched a container being transported on the back.
Inside they found a grey Mercedes, with Mr Baluch in the boot.
Mr Baluch was caught near the Queensland border at Tweed Heads at 1am. NSW Police
Mostafa Baluch, 33, cut off his ankle monitor last night and was on the run. NSW Police
He was arrested and taken to Southport watch house in the Gold Coast.
Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said the arrest was the result of good work from multiple police forces.
"You can see Australian Federal Police, NSW authorities and Queensland all working together to make sure these sort of people are tracked down.
"So a very good result and well done by those officers."
When did Mostafa Baluch allegedly skip bail?
October 25 is the key date.
NSW Police alleged between 6pm and 10pm Mr Baluch's tracking device placed him at a restaurant in Newport.
But at 10.28pm the signal went dead, which informed police the anklet had allegedly been cut off.
The tracker was found on Cabbage Tree Road outside Bayview Golf Course in Mona Vale, on Sydney's northern beaches.
He was last seen on Pittwater Road in Bayview around 10.40pm, with detectives believing he was travelling in a Mercedes-Benz.
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