Five members face charges over a fatal bikie brawl at Sydney Airport last year. Nearly 9kg of meth had also been seized at the border during the course of investigations linked to the joint operation. Police are making good progress dismantling his alleged empire of organised crime. As officers searched the black sports bag, they uncovered nearly $8 million worth of drugs. The group is accused of transporting drugs into Queensland via heavy vehicles for distribution across the states southeast and central region. 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. Ninja Warrior 2017 contestant Sopiea Kong was among those arrested. All times AEDT (GMT +11). "It's a great day for New Zealand," Williams told the Herald. 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. 'Essentially, they have handcuffed each other by endorsing and trusting AN0M and openly communicating on it not knowing we were watching the entire time.'. Operation Ironside is justthe beginning and the AFP is livingup to our maximum of keepingAustralians safe.'. 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. 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'. But thanks to a major international police operation targeting global organised crime, the maritime drug runs never eventuated and the alleged masterminds are now before the courts. The arrests were made after 24 properties were searched on Wednesday 21 throughout the wider Auckland area, and three in Christchurch. A joint investigation led to the largest ever interception of methamphetamine at the border. Almost $4 million in assets was seized in the raids, including luxury cars and property. The Comancheros are regarded as one of the most violent motorcycle gangs in Australia. Its buyer, a former 747 Qantas pilot and mining, military and medical industries surplus trader, planned to donate it to a Jandakot-based tertiary education centre to train prospective engineers in disassembling aeroplanes. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the AFP operation, known as Operation Ironside, had struck a 'heavy blow' against organised crime. National Organised Crime Group director detective superintendent Greg Williams described Operation Trojan Shield as one of the most sophisticated law enforcement operations ever undertaken "in the global fight against organised crime". Australian, US, and European authorities carried out raids across the world in June, with 4,000 cops in Australia arresting 224 accused organised crime figures and seizing tonnes of drugs, millions in cash, and other contraband and luxury goods. Australia's world-first Assistance and Access Act passed in 2018 allows intelligence agencies to require tech companies to hand over encrypted messages. Shit happens.". New Zealand authorities have also arrested 35 people for alleged drug dealing and money laundering, seizing some $NZ3.7 million ($A3.4 million) in assets. His Dutch wife,hair transplant business owner Fleur Messelink publicly flaunted the couple's elaborate lifestyle on Instagram until this week. 'I expect a significant number of alleged criminals to be arrested over the coming months,' Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw recently told a Senate estimates hearing. 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. A 33-year-old Tarragindi man charged with 25 offences including three counts of trafficking in dangerous drugs - serious organised crime, eight counts of supplying dangerous drugs and weapon offences. Breaking news, sport, business and more. 'STAY AWAY FROM ANOM IF YOU VALUE YOUR PRIVACY AND SAFETY,' the blogger wrote in an article, which has since been pulled down. 'It's just pure revenue, it's a bit like selling Amway for him. "We are an area that is very rich at present - a great area for organised crime to come and focus on," Supt Migro said. who didn't just distribute the devices among associates but also profited from the sales. 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. 50kg of cocaine seized in 10-month police probe, suspected Colombian drug ring . Senior bikies and mafia figures were tricked into buying hi-tech phones that would supposedly let them messages one another, free of police snooping. "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. Led by the FBI, and co-ordinated with the US Drug Enforcement Agency, Australian Federal Police, Europol and other law enforcement partners from more than a dozen countries, the covert operation involved investigators infiltrating encrypted devices used by transnational criminals. At least one major gang hit back at police yesterday - labelling the operation a smear campaign. A 37-year-old Holland Park West man charged with 14 offences including two counts of trafficking in dangerous drugs - serious organised crime and one count of trafficking in dangerous drugs. It involved three major organised crime investigations here targeting the importation, sale and supply of class-A drugs, as well as money-laundering activities. Ayik is wanted in several countries, including Australia, where he is listed as one of NSW's most wanted criminals. Australia's biggest ever police bust used encrypted app to intercept messages Alleged bikies and associates make up a third of 303 Operation Ironside arrests Hardest hit gang were the Comancheros . 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 man shot dead during the horrific Wieambilla terror attack has been posthumously bestowed the highest honour. China increases military spending in face of 'escalating' threats, Treaty ahoy! The Wednesday arrests include a leader of the Comancheros who allegedly formed a partnership with a senior member of the Rebels in Christchurch. How Boris Johnson's Partygate tormentor Sue Gray is now enmeshed in her own row - as it is DAN HODGES: This grubby Sue Gray recruitment annihilates all pretence that Sir Keir Starmer is a man of Matt Hancock discussed 'deploying' new virus variant to 'frighten the pants off everyone' as former Health 'So many dead. New Zealand investigators monitored thousands of messages made on 57 encrypted criminal devices. International drug syndicate Sinaloa cartel was helping Auckland gang Comancheros, police reveal It wasn't long until the Comanchero announced their arrival, as first revealed by the Herald. A 33-year-old man from the Comanchero bikie gang was identified by police as the alleged principal offender who engaged in the trafficking and supply of drugs along with other associates. The uniformed police found the drugs hidden under a pillowcase in the black sports bag Micalizzi had brought with him. In Australia, 224 people were arrested including members of outlaw motorcycle gangs, mafia groups, Asian crime syndicates, and serious and organised crime groups. Now, a man has purchased the same Aztec Piper which brought the drugs to WA.Credit: As Bankstown pilot Jamieson Santos was preparing to land his twin-engined 1970s Piper Aztec at a busy airport on the outskirts of Perth a dozen grim-faced police officers were waiting on the hot tarmac. The successful culmination of the investigations this week had caused significant disruption to organised criminal syndicates both here and overseas. 12:38, May 02 2022. Police will allege bikie gangs bought a share of drug importations for more than $1 million alongside other criminal groups. Kylie Stevens For Daily Mail Australia, From Nivea moisturiser to two-minute noodles and of course, an Adidas shirt: Inside the 'getaway' bag of accused cocaine kingpin dramatically arrested as he attempted to flee Australia, How an undercover operative nicknamed 'Antman' infiltrated Mostafa Baluch's alleged drug syndicate to destroy a $270million coke deal and replace 900kg in powder with a sham load. 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 drugs have a street value of more than $245 million, police said in a statement. 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. He was denied bail and will reappear in court next week. Pictured: one man being arrested by AFP officers, A tradie is seen kneeling with his hands tied behind his back after being arrested following raids, A luxury Ducati motorcycle was among the hundreds of items seized by AFP officers during raids as part of Operation Ironside. The plane that spurred the downfall of one of Australia's largest drug syndicates was sold at auction in May. Police said the nine-month investigation, run by the National Organised Crime Group, targeted a core group that are alleged to be involved in the importation, distribution and manufacture of methamphetamine and MDMA, and other drugs in the two cities. 'It's like having The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) sponsoring your gym. The 1970s Aztec Piper no longer sits at Jandakot Airport. Members of the Comancheros linked to the alleged conspiracy are among those arrested this week. 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. He is Australia's most wanted man after fleeing Sydney for Turkey more than a decade ago when he was linked to a $230 million heroin importation syndicate. BBC's 1million star Zoe Ball, 52, lands big new payday for Abba show on ITV. If Stuff is a regular part of your day, please consider becoming a supporter. Get the news you want delivered straight to your inbox so you never miss a headline. The fact they were duped into thinking a network was secure would send a message to others, he said. But its best feature - and for most of its users, the worst - wasn't promoted in its marketing material. The #1 Biker News Website Since 2011-Covering up to minute biker news including Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs & Biker News Worldwide. 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. 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. 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. 51K views, 164 likes, 10 loves, 53 comments, 86 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from 7NEWS Sydney: 7NEWS can reveal the bust is linked to exiled bikie Mark Buddle of the Comancheros. It is estimated the drugs would have caused over $500 million worth of social harm, as per drug harm index figures, Coster added. Police have arrested 10 people and seized over $1 million in cash and assets following a major operation targeting the supply and distribution of methamphetamine. IF YOU VALUE YOUR PRIVACY & SAFETY'. 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. In total, police seized vehicles worth over $1.2 million. Police have arrested 12 people, including senior members of the Comancheros and Rebels gangs, as part of an operation targeting the drug trade. Police said they had seized drugs some of which had been packaged ready for sale along with more than $200,000 in cash and a shotgun. Police searched 21 properties across Auckland and three in Christchurch. Three years ago, Australia Federal Policeidentified Ayik as a key influencer to successfully distribute the encrypted AN0M devices due to his high status in the criminal underworld. Watch: Australian Police take down mafia, Comancheros in early morning raids and seize millions in cars, drugs and cash. The 5-year hunt for Comancheros gang boss. But the ANoM phones were actually designed by the FBI and allowed Australian police to read the texts of organised crime figures. It is estimated the meth could have caused more than $500 million worth of social harm if sold into the community. Police watched in real time as alleged crooks spilled their secrets to one another on their own app. Police said they were both running drug distribution networks in their cities. 'These criminal influencers put the AFP in the back pocket of hundreds of alleged offenders,' Mr Kershaw said. Dozens of people have been arrested after a police massive operation targeting alleged drug supply by outlaw bikie gangs. An FBI spokesperson said the operation highlighted how global law enforcement agencies could successfully combat transnational organised crime and drug trafficking, even against those who attempted to hide behind encrypted communication platforms.