Bikie Mark Buddle appears in Melbourne court after six years abroad

A senior Comancheros figure accused of being involved in the importation of 160 kilograms of cocaine to Melbourne has returned to Victoria after six years abroad.

Flanked by security staff,bikie boss Mark Buddle,37,faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday charged over his alleged involvement in the $40 million importation in May 2021.

Mark Buddle in a prison vehicle leaving the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.

Mark Buddle in a prison vehicle leaving the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.Jason South

Buddle’s solicitor Stephen Zahr flew from NSW for the brief hearing where his client was remanded in custody to reappear in court on November 25.

He made no application for bail and no custody management issues were raised.

Outside court,Zahr said his client wasn’t doing “too bad”,and said he was not aware of any safety concerns surrounding Buddle’s time in custody.

“He appeared like any other inmate would,” Zahr said. “Nothing out of the ordinary.” “I don’t have any information in regards to his safety.”

A court sketch of Mark Buddle.

A court sketch of Mark Buddle.Mollie McPherson/Nine News

Soon after,a smiling Buddle left the court precinct in the back of an armoured BearCat police truck,restrained with handcuffs and bound for remand.

Buddle – whose full name is Mark Douglas Buddle – has been charged with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug on May 31,2021.

Court documents show Buddle has also been charged with conspiring – between March 19 and June 3,2021 – to import a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug.

Each offence carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Mark Buddle’s solicitor Stephen Zahr outside Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

Mark Buddle’s solicitor Stephen Zahr outside Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday.Nine News

The court documents also reveal Melbourne magistrate Julie Grainger granted investigators a warrant to arrest Buddle on July 23.

He’d arrived in Melbourne early on Friday on a chartered flight from Darwin,flanked by AFP officers,after a court approved his extradition from the Northern Territory.

The 37-year-old had been living abroad for six years after leaving Australia for Turkey,and then northern Cyprus,in 2016.

Following the cocaine seizure in 2021,federal authorities issued a global arrest alert. Buddle was apprehended by Turkish authorities in June and held in Ankara before being deported back to Australia this week.

Buddle arrives back in Melbourne.

Buddle arrives back in Melbourne.AFP

Australian investigators will allege Buddle was involved in a transnational criminal syndicate operating out of Hong Kong and Turkey,that saw 160 kilograms of cocaine – with an estimated street value of $40 million – imported to Melbourne but then seized by authorities.

On Tuesday,the AFP revealed federal investigators began preparing for Buddle’s arrest in October 2021 before Interpol issued a red notice – a global alert – for his capture.

His extradition came months after five people were arrested in connection to the importation,which was concealed in a shipment of air filters. Those five included the alleged co-ordinator of the crime syndicate,a 42-year-old Sydney man,and four Victorians.

The Sydney man was charged with importing a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs. Three Melbourne men were also remanded on allegations they played a role in the collection and distribution of the cocaine shipment.

Magistrate Kieran Gilligan ordered Buddle return to Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on November 25 via video link.

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Erin Pearson covers crime and justice for The Age.

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