Users could buy phone handsets costing between $1,500 and $2,500 from what has been described as underground distributors. The Wednesday arrests include a leader of the Comancheros who allegedly formed a partnership with a senior member of the Rebels in Christchurch. Further enquiries into the intercepted meth over the last few days saw several search warrants being carried out across south Auckland on Tuesday evening, resulting in the arrest of six people aged between 27 and 36. The hacker added that law enforcement agencies had been tipped off. But they're not okay. This is along way from over.'. The Turkish-Australian holds dual citizenship, and despite being included in the NSW police most wanted persons list and having an Interpol arrest warrant against his name, Turkey does not extradite its citizens. Police also seized a number of assets and eight luxury vehicles, including a 2019 Ferrari 488 Pista worth more than $630,000, and a 2020 Porsche 911 Coupe, worth more than $230,000. Acting detective inspector John Brunton from the national organised crime group said police are determined to target the leaders and key members of gangs that are involved in drug dealing. Why? For its encryption, it claimed to use 'OMEMO Double Ratchet Algorithm independently audited by Dutch security research group Radically Open Security'. Huge AFP bust has seen 4,000 cops storm Australia's underworld overnight . Mr Kershaw said detectives witnessed associates 'turning on each other' and doing business behind each other's backs. Shit happens.". Ukraine soldiers shoot down enemy drones with drones of their own, Wheel of Fortune contestant answers food puzzle wrong, Pavement where disabled woman gestured at cyclist before fatal crash, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' Coster said Thursdays bust was a significant result by the National Organised Crime Group to combat community hard caused by meth. You can make a contribution from as little as $1. Subscribe to 7NEWS Australia for the latest news video https://7news.link/YTSubscribeConnect with Seven News onlineVisit https://7news.com.au7NEWS Podcast http://smarturl.it/7NewsDailyFacebook https://www.facebook.com/7NewsAustraliaTwitter https://twitter.com/7NewsAustraliaInstagram https://www.instagram.com/7newsaustralia/ 7NEWS combines the trusted and powerful news brands including Sunrise, The Morning Show, The Latest, and 7NEWS.com.au, delivering unique, engaging and continuous coverage on the issues that matter most to Australians. They had taken 15 vacuum-sealed bags filled with 30,000 MDMA tablets and more than 20 plastic bags containing almost 22 kilograms of methylamphetamine off the streets and, although they did not know it at the time, they had kick-started one of the largest law enforcement operations in Australian history. NZ POLICE/Supplied. Pictured: items seized by the AFP, More arrests are expected domestically and offshore under a coordinated global response connected to Operation Ironside. In total, police seized vehicles worth over $1.2 million. Police seized almost $2m in drugs and property after raids on a Comancheros bikie gang drug trafficking syndicate. The bust exposed new details about how one of Australia's most wanted fugitives gave police extensive access to the world's criminal underworld, Among the items seized by the AFP was memorabilia from the 1972 cult classic The Godfather, Australia's biggest ever police bust has seen 3.77 tonnes of drugs, $45 million in cash, guns, luxury cars, motorcycles and watches pictured) seized, Ninja Warrior 2017 contestant Sopiea Kong was among those arrested. Operation Ironside, started in 2018 with a fake encrypted communication app developed in partnership with the FBI. Had this shipment been distributed across New Zealand it would have caused immense harm to the vulnerable communities these criminal groups were preying upon.. CULVER CITY, Calif. (KABC) -- Authorities made one of the largest drug busts in Los Angeles County history recently, seizing meth and cocaine with a street value of nearly $60 million, officials say. Police have arrested 12 more people today as part of Operation Cincinnati and located drugs, some of which was ready for sale, and a shotgun after executing 24 search warrants. Ayik, 42, is said to have unwittingly given police direct access to the criminal underworld by encouraging his colleagues to use the app. Police will allege bikie gangs bought a share of drug importations for more than $1 million alongside other criminal groups. The #1 Biker News Website Since 2011-Covering up to minute biker news including Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs & Biker News Worldwide. The investigation, dubbed Operation Weirton, had been looking at a criminal syndicates alleged links to importation of controlled Class A drugs into the country, Coster said. Some 224 people have been arrested, $44,934,457 in cash seized, as well as 104 weapons, 3.7 tonnes of drugs and multi-million dollar assets. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. New Zealand Police began working with the FBI on the operation in January 2020 to monitor the communications of platform users here in New Zealand. 'It's just pure revenue, it's a bit like selling Amway for him. Mark Vick Kitos, 28, of Stirling, was also charged, but did not appear in court and remains in police custody. Former Bandito bikie Benjamin Joseph Thornton, 31, was arrested after police seized two mobile phones and a small quantity of cocaine. An Interpol red notice has also been for Ayik's arrest, who remains on the run from authorities. Had we not made this seizure, those communities would have continued to suffer, and the individuals involved in this offending would continue to profit from the destruction with no regard for those they have affected. "Turn the engine off and get out of the aircraft.". It is estimated the drugs would have caused over $500 million worth of social harm, as per drug harm index figures, Coster added. The app was accessed by entering a PIN number into the phone's calculator, the stuff of spy dramas. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. The phone, which supposedly allowed encrypted communications safe from the eyes of the law, was actually a cunning trap laid for a who's who of organised crime. At least 35 people were arrested who appeared yesterday in Auckland and Hamilton district courts facing nearly 1000 separate drug dealing and money laundering charges. He is due to appear in Cleveland Magistrates Court on January 20. "I saw this aeroplane come up and I just bought it out of curiosity," Nevan Pavlinovic said. Along with three money laundering charges, the Comancheros president Pasilika Naufahu is charged with conspiring to commit two drug-related offences - one of conspiring to import a class A drug . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. Coster said he was proud of his police staff for the work they do to keep communities safe. Phil Hickey The West Australian. Desperate drivers are taking to social media to buy and sell demerit points, risking eye-wateringly expensive fines in the process. It was March 5, 2008. However, it seems few alleged criminals in the sights of law enforcement did a cursory Google search into the 'encrypted' phone and app platform. Several of the people arrested are linked to the Comancheros gang. Another nine were allegedly linked to the Rebels, eight to the Lone Wolf gang, and a handful linked to the Mongols, Finks, and Bandidos, News Corp reported. Police have charged 224 alleged offenders with 525 charges, shut down six clandestine laboratories and acted on 21 threats to kill, Pictured: one man accused of participating in the syndicate sits on his bed after being raided by AFP officers, A luxury Audi sedan seized by the AFP as part of their joint investigation with the U.S. FBI, The bust exposed new details about how one of Australia's most wanted fugitives gave police extensive access to the world's criminal underworld. 'We're bearing down upon them. Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook www.heraldsun.cohttps://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/how-operation-ironsides-an0m-sting-put-a-hole-in-bikie-gangs/news-story/02b33f401ffff4ec7c87546646fcc5c9. The Comanchero Motorcycle Club New Zealand president feared he was about to be arrested eight months before a major police bust and also suspected police were bugging his phone, a jury has been told. The country's Federal Police released pictures of the wealth, firepower and even taste in gangster movies of those arrested during sweeping raids across the country, the U.S., Britain andwider Europe after the alleged criminals were covertly monitored for three years using an encrypted communication app called 'AN0M'. It was a 30-plus degree summer day and, although a cyclone was gravitating towards Western Australia's northern coast, not a gust of wind was blowing at the strip. The catamaran was seized in Tauranga, where it remains in police custody. Drug kingpin and Comancheros bikie associate Hakan Ayik has spent the last decade on the run from Australian . He was denied bail and will reappear in court next week. The Comancheros purchased a catamaran to carry out the offshore marine rendezvous. Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Mooney said large quantities of cocaine, methylamphetamine, heroin and cannabis were uncovered during the arrests. An officer who identified himself as Detective Roy Morrish was standing at the forefront of the unit, motioning officers to unzip the large sports bag Micalizzi had loaded onto the cargo hold 15 hours prior. Pictured: ammunition seized by police, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the AFP operation, known as Operation Ironside, had struck a 'heavy blow' against criminals, Hakan Ayik (pictured) gave police extensive access to the world's criminal underworld throughencrypted communications app AN0M. It was the biggest drug bust in WA history and a day law enforcement officers . At least one major gang hit back at police yesterday - labelling the operation a smear campaign. Former Bachelorette star Samuel Minkin, who appeared on Becky and Elly Miles' season of the dating show, was charged with possessing a large commercial quantity of cannabis after police stopped a van in Byron Bay last month, Hakan Ayik (pictured) was tricked into distributing messages to criminal associates, Hakan Ayik has spent the last decade living a lavish lifestyle in Turkey. A 37-year-old Capalaba man charged with 158 offences including two counts of trafficking in dangerous drugs - serious organised crime, one count of trafficking dangerous drugs, one count of producing dangerous drug, 130 counts of supplying dangerous drugs and weapon offences. A joint investigation led to the largest ever interception of methamphetamine at the border. He is due to appear in Cleveland Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Former Bachelorette star Samuel Minkin, who appeared on Becky and Elly Miles' season of the dating show, was charged with possessing a large commercial quantity of cannabis after police stopped a van in Byron Bay last month. Steve Milenkovski, 32, of Tuart Hill, Yavuz Ozan, 31, of Kogarah, NSW, and Hao Bi, 26, of East Perth, appeared in East Perth Magistrates Court charged with a range of offences related to the overnight raid. But youknow, this isn't over. It was a sweet deal for somebody living off the generosity of friends and family.