Ayik is wanted in several countries, including Australia, where he is listed as one of NSW's most wanted criminals. The Aztec at a hangar at Jandakot Airpot. "This shipment never made it to New Zealand.". Video / AFP It is being credited with catching underworld figures, mafia. The hardest hit gang were theComancheros with 76 arrests - three quarters of the alleged criminals rounded up from AN0M intercepts. It is estimated the drugs would have caused over $500 million worth of social harm, as per drug harm index figures, Coster added. "We believe the termination of these operations will have a significant impact on New Zealand's organised crime scene.". Highs-powered rifles were among the weapons seized. Members of the Comancheros linked to the alleged conspiracy are among those arrested this week. The 33-year-old was charged last week following a raid at a Kangaroo Point home, where police allegedly seized 154g of meth. But the Daily Mail can reveal the entire elaborate sting was placed in jeopardy in late March, when an anonymous blogger sounded the alarm, labelling the platform a 'scam' which rerouted peoples' data through to the United States. If you value facts and being well-informed, please consider supporting Stuff. More arrests are expected domestically and offshore under a coordinated global response connected to Operation Ironside. 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. Ninja Warrior 2017 contestant Sopiea Kong was among those arrested. It comes as there have been tonnes of drugs and hundreds of arrests overseas. Watch 7NEWS nightly at 6pm and weekdays at 11:30am and 4pm on Channel 7 and 7plus.#MarkBuddle #Ourimbah #Kulnura #7NEWS Then known as Joseph Hakan Ayik, the Sydney bikie associate and gym junkie fled Australia in 2010 to avoid arrest over a $230 million heroin importation. Wednesdays search warrants marked the second termination phase of Operation Cincinnati, which saw 26 people arrested and kilos of drugs, multiple firearms and more than $10 million in assets seized in October. The next few months after the bust, investigators from the Australian Crime Commission infiltrated international money-laundering streams and exposed Ayik's drug empire. Waikato Mongrel Mob's public relations liaison, Lou Hutchinson, took to Twitter to say: "Lol do you seriously believe all the bullsh*t spin about the Waikato Mongrel Mob Kingdom [sic] this is a total smear campaign driven by the NZ Police, politicians and mainstream media! A 24-year-old Mount Gravatt East man charged with 17 offences including two counts of trafficking in dangerous drugs - serious organised crime, six counts of supplying dangerous drugs and one count of receiving or possessing property obtained from trafficking or supplying. AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw said the alleged syndicate included 'someof the most dangerous criminals toAustralia'. Regular chances to win incredible prizes like luxury getaways and sports tickets with our subscriber exclusive competitions. IF YOU VALUE YOUR PRIVACY & SAFETY'. He is due to appear in Cleveland Magistrates Court on January 20. Interactive map reveals when you may see SNOW, Kate Garraway reveals Derek's heartbreaking words when they thought he had just minutes left to live. Senior members of the Comancheros in Waikato, Waikato Mongrel Mob and the Head Hunters were among those arrested. Police and Customs managed to intercept more than 600kg of methamphetamine at Auckland Airport. "WA police," a robust voice said firmly from the other side of the metal. Operation Hoffman, a sting designed by Australia's most secretive and powerful law enforcement agency, the Australian Crime Commission, would topple a billion-dollar empire extending across two continents and send a drug lord into hiding. That seizure was also allegedly tied to the Comancheros. Subscribers with digital access can view this article. The arrests were made after 24 properties were searched on Wednesday 21 throughout the wider Auckland area, and three in Christchurch. The Australian Federal Police on Tuesday revealed a breathtaking three-year tech ploy which led to 4,000 police executing 525 search warrants. You can make a contribution from as little as $1. Huge AFP bust has seen 4,000 cops storm Australia's underworld overnight . There's obviously a lot more work to do, there's still a lot offshore who we're looking at as well,' National Anti-Gangs Squad, Detective Superintendent Jason McArthur, said. Because with the pandemic situation constantly changing, its easy for misinformation and rumours to take hold. West Australian Newspapers Limited 2023. An Interpol red notice has also been for Ayik's arrest, who remains on the run from authorities. Collectively,these alleged offenders are facingjail terms that could run intohundreds of years and some of thecharges they are facing carry lifeimprisonment,' he said. The hacker added that law enforcement agencies had been tipped off. Phil Hickey The West Australian. China increases military spending in face of escalating threats. NZ POLICE/Supplied. He had done the trip a handful of times before. 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. According to Santos, he was preparing his plane for take-off at Bankstown Airport in the early hours of March 4, 2008, when a car pulled up outside the airfield and a young man dressed in a white shirt and black pants, walked up to shake his hand. Santos reckons airport workers tipped off the police during one of the fuel stops, when Micalizzi refused to leave the aircraft despite airport protocol. Former Bandito bikie Benjamin Joseph Thornton, 31, was arrested after police seized two mobile phones and a small quantity of cocaine. Please try again later. Dozens of people have been arrested after a police massive operation targeting alleged drug supply by outlaw bikie gangs. The phones were stripped down - they couldn't even make calls, access the internet or send emails. Today's arrests include a leader of the Comancheros gang, who allegedly formed a partnership with a senior member of the Rebels gang in Christchurch, with both allegedly running drug distribution networks in their areas, police said in a statement. The fact they were duped into thinking a network was secure would send a message to others, he said. 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'. LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) Dozens of people were arrested, and more than 5,000 pounds of methamphetamine and nearly $16 million was seized in the Southern California area amid a nationwide operation . Fronting media in Auckland, Williams said the FBI had recently dismantled several encrypted platforms which criminals used to communicate, including Canadian-based Phantom Secure in 2018 and Sky Global earlier this year. His Dutch wife,hair transplant business owner Fleur Messelink publicly flaunted the couple's elaborate lifestyle on Instagram until this week. Pictured: items seized by the AFP, More arrests are expected domestically and offshore under a coordinated global response connected to Operation Ironside. 'It's just pure revenue, it's a bit like selling Amway for him. "The users believed their Anom devices were protected from law enforcement by the shield of impenetrable encryption.". The near year-long operation came to a climax on Sunday and Monday when detectives swarmed on multiple properties across Broadbeach Waters, Gaven, Tamborine, Rochdale, Steiglitz, Cleveland, Holland Park, Capalaba, Caboolture, Mount Nathan and Rockhampton. Manukau District Court documents seen by Stuff allege five men participated in an organised criminal group with the shared objective of obtaining material benefits from the possession of methamphetamine for supply. But you know, this isn't over. The uniformed police found the drugs hidden under a pillowcase in the black sports bag Micalizzi had brought with him. Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook Be part of our story, and help us tell yours. An anonymous blogger known only as 'canyouguess67' posted an article warning users to keep off ANOM for their 'own safety', Daily Mail Australia can reveal. Senior investigators allege '100 per cent' of telephone conversations intercepted on the devices were all business and in relation to criminal activity. By Alana Mazzoni and Daniel Piotrowski and Kylie Stevens For Daily Mail Australia, Published: 01:08 GMT, 8 June 2021 | Updated: 16:10 GMT, 8 June 2021. The gang vessel was seized during the searches, along with a cache of drugs, luxury vehicles and cash. 'There's no doubt going to be some tension within the whole system about who owes what drug debt and so on. More than a decade later after the sting, drugs continue to slip across Australia's borders from overseas, as the nation's drug users consume more than four tonnes of cocaine every year. For years, it sat on the tarmac at a general airport 20 kilometres south of Perth. 'Enforce your right to privacy': This is how the ANoM website advertised its product - with users not realising that law enforcement officials could read each and every message. Four men arrested in New Zealand's biggest drug bust have . Ayik, then in his early 30s, had made a fortune by forging alliances with Chinese triads, Indian chemical suppliers, the Comancheros outlaw motorcycle gang and known underworld figures to create a multi-billion dollar international drug syndicate spanning across continents. Not so shipshape! Organised crime evolving 'rapidly' in NZ as borders become 'porous' to illicit trade - NZ Heral Gangs and guns: Police unveil operation targeting firearms and organised crime - NZ Herald. The app was created by police and spread to criminals, then millions of messages were intercepted and used to make arrests in Australia's biggest ever sting. Stuffs ethical reporting is built on accuracy, fairness and balance. "We have got a lot of people with large sums of money, very disposable income - great targets for organised crime - and that's why organised crime from all groups are starting to look at and concentrate on WA. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. But the ANoM phones were actually designed by the FBI and allowed Australian police to read the texts of organised crime figures.