Mostafa Baluch,restaurateur,has been charged in relation to a major cocaine investigation.
The alleged plot to import a total three tonnes of cocaine came to the attention of organised crime squad detectives after one of the men was allegedly observed laundering large amounts of money –up to $100 million in one week – at the Star casino in early 2020.
Police say a probe of the man’s finances uncovered a significant transnational organised crime syndicate. The US Navy and Coast Guard were called in to intercept two cocaine shipments off the coasts of Colombia and Ecuador in October and April.
Mr Baluch,33,is the son of migrant parents who came to Australia from Afghanistan and launched the family’s successful restaurant business on the northern beaches.
He was allegedly the sole financier of the second shipment of 900 kilograms of cocaine earlier this year,which had a potential street value of $270 million.
One of the cocaine shipments seized off the coast of South America.Credit:NSW Police
He was arrested at his Bayview home two weeks ago and taken to Manly Police Station,where he was charged with a steroid possession offence,dealing with the proceeds of crime,supply of a prohibited drug and contravening a section 3LA order requiring a person to enable access to personal data on a device.
During a search of his home,detectives seized cash – $US62,700 and $US12,000 – four mobile phones,an ounce of cocaine,steroids and jewellery.