One of Australia’s most wanted men who has evaded capture for more than a decade has been arrested in Turkey as part of a major crackdown on an international crime ring.
Fugitive Hakan Ayik was seized by police in Istanbul along with 36 other suspected members of his criminal gang called Comanchero which is based in Australia.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on 2nd November that the organisation was allegedly involved in international drug trafficking and money laundering.
Dramatic footage shows the moment specialised police teams captured the suspects in a series of raids as part of Operation Kafes (Cage).
Investigators also seized assets belonging to approximately 55 suspect individuals, worth around TRY 4.5 billion (GBP 130 million), including bank accounts, real estate, vehicles, and shares in 22 companies.
Minister Yerlikaya said Comanchero’s previous leader, Mick Hawi, was killed in 2018.
After his death, Mark Douglas Buddle continued the organisation’s criminal streak until 2022, when he was apprehended in Northern Cyprus and extradited to Australian authorities.
Members Hakan Ayik and Duax Hohepa Ngakuru then took over and continued to engage in various criminal activities globally.
They attempted to transport drugs they procured from South America to Australia, the Netherlands, and Hong Kong through South Korea and South Africa.
They also tried to launder the proceeds of their global crimes in Turkey, according to the minister.
Minister Yerlikaya added: “I congratulate and thank our Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, our Judiciary, MASAK [Financial Crimes Investigation Board], and our General Directorate of Security Narcotics Crimes Department, Istanbul Police Department, Narcotics Crimes Branch, and all our colleagues who have shown great sensitivity and determination in organising the operations from the beginning.
“We will not forgive organised crime gangs and drug traffickers.
“Regardless of their scale, we will dismantle organised crime gangs and bring them to justice.”
