Applying for Turkish citizenship saw Masood Zakaria collared by cops

Wanted Sydney man and Alameddine crime network heavyweight Masood Zakaria had evaded police for 14 months— but the game was up when a simple photograph matched an Interpol alert.

Fugitive Masood Zakaria gave himself away when he tried to apply for citizenship in Turkey, it can be revealed.

The wanted Sydney man and Alameddine crime network heavyweight had been on the run for 14-months, but the game was up when his application matched with an Interpol alert.

An interpol red notice was issued for Zakaria, 27, late last year meaning authorities all over the world were actively looking for him to provisionally arrest.

The red notice included Zakaria’s photograph and fingerprints.

The Daily Telegraph has been told Zakaria was in possession of two fake passports when Turkish police arrested him during a night raid on January 28.

Masood Zakaria caught the notice of police when he tried to apply for Turkish citizenship, it can be revealed.

It is understood he had been using one of the passports - with his photograph - to apply for citizenship, which ultimately led police to his whereabouts.

Zakaria’s wife Azza was with him when he was apprehended, along with 10 associates who act as bodyguards.

Police -pictured at Zakaria’s Greystanes home in Sydney- were able to collar the fugitive after his application triggered an Interpol red notice.

Mrs Zakaria - who travelled to Turkey on a tourist visa - spent several days in a detention centre in Bodrum before she was allowed to leave the country and return to Australia.

Ms Zakaria is not alleged to have engaged in any wrongdoing.

She landed in Melbourne on Saturday, along with a man who was also apprehended during the raid.

NSW Police allege Zakaria was the mastermind behind a failed attempt at killing rival gang member Ibrahem Hamzy, at North Sydney in August 2021.

Zakaria went on the run in December 2021

and allegedly smuggled his way to Malaysia on a fishing ship.

But they have been unable to find him since he allegedly fled the country hidden inside a fishing trawler which left Western Australia headed to Malaysia.

From there, Zakaria is believed to have travelled by land to Turkey where he has been hiding out ever since.

Local media reported that 50 police officers from Istanbul and Bodrum were involved in the arrest of Zakaria, who was staying in a rental villa overlooking a marina.

Police swooped just after midnight and raided two side-by-side villas the wanted man and his entourage were staying in, before arresting Zakaria and detaining multiple others.

Zakaria was staying in a luxury villa overlooking the Yalikavak marina in Bodrum when he was arrested in a night raid on January 28.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash was seized during the raid.

Zakaria will remain in a prison facility in the country’s capital Ankara until the Australian Federal Police liase with local authorities to secure his extradition back to NSW.

Sources close to the investigation said Zakaria could be charged with up to 11 alleged offences - including conspiracy to murder, directing a criminal group, drug supply and dealing with proceeds of crime - when he returns home.

Originally published as Applying for Turkish citizenship saw Masood Zakaria collared by cops