An alleged cocaine dealer has returned to regional Australia to face serious drug and firearm charges after a search tracked the fugitive across four countries.
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The 32-year-old man travelled to Thailand on a fake passport before bouncing between Middle Eastern and Asian countries in an alleged effort to avoid Australian authorities.
He allegedly camped out in airport transit areas for weeks to resist deportation, police said.
The alleged crime syndicate "key figure" was charged with 55 drug and firearm offences at Albury Police Station in NSW on November 30 after landing at Melbourne Airport.
Raptor Squad detective superintendent Andrew Koutsoufis said Australian authorities would track down alleged offenders "no matter where they attempt to hide".
"The message is clear: there are no places beyond the grasp of the Raptor Squad when it comes to safeguarding our communities from the scourge of illegal drugs and firearms," he said.
Stint in Thai prison
An investigation into a crime syndicate allegedly distributing cocaine and other drugs across Sydney began in October 2022.
Police charged three men during the investigation and their cases remain before the courts in NSW.
A fourth man allegedly escaped police and travelled to Bangkok, Thailand with a stolen passport.
The man's home in Kensington, Sydney was searched on December 15, 2022, and police allegedly seized 11 guns, ammunition and ballistic vests.
Police also allegedly found nearly four kilograms of GBL, 282 grams of MDMA and 409 grams of methylamphetamine during the search.
Australian Federal Police contacted Thai authorities in January 2023 and, almost a year later, he was arrested and jailed in Thailand for 11 months over immigration offences.
He received a royal pardon in October 2024 and was told to return to Australia on a Brisbane-bound flight stopping in the Philippines capital Manila.
Global manhunt
The man allegedly tried to avoid boarding the connecting flight to Australia by claiming a medical episode and booking a ticket from Manila to Istanbul via Abu Dhabi.
Authorities in Manila, Abu Dhabi and Turkiye's capital Ankara were alerted of his arrival in their jurisdictions.
The 32-year-old was denied entry into Turkiye when he landed in Istanbul and was put on a flight to Abu Dhabi on November 7.
Police allege he unsuccessfully attempted to board a flight to Lebanon but was redirected back to Manila.
The Philippines Bureau of Immigration met the man at the airport and he was given the opportunity to voluntarily return to Australia.
Instead, he allegedly booked a ticket to Taiwan in a "final attempt to evade Australian law enforcement", police said.
He was not allowed on the plane and the man opted to stay in the transit area of Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport from November 8 until he was deported back to Australia on November 29.
Charges laid in Australia
The 32-year-old arrived in Melbourne on November 29 where he was arrested by Victoria Police.
He was taken to Albury Police Station, near the Victoria and NSW border, and charged with 55 drug and firearm offences before continuing to Sydney for a court appearance on December 1.
He was formally refused bail and is due to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on December 3.
Anna Houlahan
Anna Houlahan is a journalist for the Courier, dedicated to uncovering the stories that shape the city. Reach out with news or updates to anna.houlahan@austcommunitymedia.com.au
