The pair have been charged over their alleged roles in the importation of three consignments of methamphetamine and MDMA via air and sea freight,money laundering offences and dealing with the proceeds of crime as part of a criminal syndicate that earned $54 million.
A statement of police facts obtained by theHerald detailed the alleged key roles played by Mr Pitt and Mr Battah alongside Sydney businessman Savas Guven and his cousin,the former Lone Wolf bikie and Turkish soldier,Erkan ‘Eric the Wolf’ Keskin.
But the document also reveals the extent of an international network allegedly used by the syndicate. All three consignments originated at least in part from the Netherlands before being shipped or flown from Spain and Germany,police say.
Korab Halilaj,an Albanian national who lived in the UK,has emerged as a key figure in the export side of the syndicate from Europe while also playing a role on the ground in Australia,police allege. He has been charged with fraud in Australia but was allowed to return to the UK on bail. His whereabouts are unknown. A warrant remains outstanding for his arrest.
Mr Halilaj,who was in contact with the Australian syndicate through fake email accounts,played a role in the creation of the two fraudulent identities and dealing with the logistics of exporting the consignments,police say.
In 2012,Mr Halilaj was in Australia and targeted by police in Adelaide where he was acting suspiciously near an ATM,police allege. He allegedly had two UK driver’s licences,one in his name and one in another name.