New South Wales’ most wanted man Mostafa Baluch has been arrested after evading police for weeks.
Police found the 33-year-old hiding inside a grey Mercedes, which was loaded inside a container in the back of a truck travelling to Queensland early on Wednesday morning.
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He was arrested and taken to Southport Watch House on the Gold Coast.
Detectives from NSW will travel there to seek his extradition back to NSW when he faces court later on Wednesday.
Baluch, who was wanted over a record 900kg cocaine bust - has been on the run since October 25 after cutting off his monitoring ankle.
The 33-year-old - dubbed “Australia’s Pablo Escobar” - was wanted over alleged bail breaches.
He was last known to have been at his home on Pittwater Road in Bayview.
A day after he went missing, police believe they spotted Baluch in the backseat of a black Range Rover as it travelled east on the M4 at Croydon.
That vehicle was later found and seized by police.
Released on bail
The 33-year-old was granted bail on October 22, against the advice of police.
NSW Police Minister David Elliott said police involved in the case were “devastated” and he was furious Baluch had been granted bail.
“Because quite frankly this guy was our Pablo Escobar,” he told Sydney radio 2GB.
“This guy was (allegedly) part of an international racket with levels of drugs we have never seen before.
“The police expressly advised the court ‘he is a bad guy’.”
Baluch was arrested in June and charged with being part of a conspiracy to import more than 900kg of cocaine and was in custody until he was granted bail after putting up a $4 million property as surety.
Detectives from NSW Police, Australian Federal Police, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, Australian Border Force, the NSW Crime Commission and interstate police all assisted in tracking Baluch down.
“The NSW Police Force would like to thank all partner agencies for their assistance thus far,” NSW Police said in a statement on Wednesday.
Inquiries are continuing.
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