Australia’s most wanted man, Mostafa Baluch is behind bars after a massive manhunt. He was attempting to cross the borders. Baluch, 33, allegedly took off an ankle device that had traced his activities in Sydney, sparking a 17-day nationwide manhunt.
Authorities stated that they stopped a lorry after getting a tip. Mr Baluch is a suspected drug smuggler. He was discovered in a car inside a shipping container on the lorry, according to police. “Officers searched the container on the back of the truck, where they located the 33-year-old man hiding inside a grey Mercedes,” NSW Police says in a statement. “He was quite shocked – he thought he was cleverer than this,” says Detective Supt Rob Critchlow.
Police made a discovery of more than $250,000 in cash
During searches of Potts Hill and Yagoona residences, police made a discovery of more than $250,000 in cash. Approximately 200 grammes of cocaine, 485 grammes of an unknown narcotic, mobile phones, and an electronic money counter. “We know for sure he had been at some of those addresses, and we were close behind him all the way,” Superintendent Critchlow says.“Mr Baluch has opened opportunities we didn’t have before. It has given us great potential to really dissolve a major trafficking syndicate.”
Officers said Baluch was attempting to cross from New South Wales into Queensland when he was apprehended in Tweed Heads at 1 a.m. local time on Wednesday (14.00 GMT Tuesday). “Today will be considered one of the great days of NSW Police,” state Police Minister David Elliott mentioned.
Baluch was on bail at the time he went missing. He was accused of attempting to import 900kg of cocaine from Ecuador. The manhunt has cost police an “extraordinary” amount of money, according to police. He will face a court hearing later on Wednesday. According to police, the man driving the lorry would face prosecution for allegedly helping a fugitive.
