- Dec 27, 2016
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Against the advice of police, 33-year-old Mostafa Baluch from Sydney’s northern beaches was granted bail on Friday, despite facing a lengthy spell in jail if convicted of the conspiracy to import 900kg of cocaine.
The New South Wales police minister David Elliott said police involved in the case were “devastated” and he was furious Baluch had been granted bail.
“This guy was (allegedly) part of an international racket with levels of drugs we have never seen before,” Elliot said.
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 $4m property as surety.
It was a condition of his bail that he wear an electronic monitor but on Monday night the ankle bracelet was cut off, police say, and found ditched by the side of a road on the northern beaches.
Police are investigating whether Baluch may have left NSW on a private jet that night.
Elliott said he had spoken to police commissioner Mick Fuller about the difficulties in locating Baluch.
“This will be a tough job for the NSW police,” he said.
The Australian Federal Police and its international law enforcement partners are also involved.
The New South Wales police minister David Elliott said police involved in the case were “devastated” and he was furious Baluch had been granted bail.
“This guy was (allegedly) part of an international racket with levels of drugs we have never seen before,” Elliot said.
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 $4m property as surety.
It was a condition of his bail that he wear an electronic monitor but on Monday night the ankle bracelet was cut off, police say, and found ditched by the side of a road on the northern beaches.
Police are investigating whether Baluch may have left NSW on a private jet that night.
Elliott said he had spoken to police commissioner Mick Fuller about the difficulties in locating Baluch.
“This will be a tough job for the NSW police,” he said.
The Australian Federal Police and its international law enforcement partners are also involved.
Police fear accused Sydney drug trafficker may have left country on private jet
Manhunt widens for Mostafa Baluch, who is charged over an alleged plot to import cocaine but disappeared after being granted bail
www.theguardian.com