Australia’s most wanted man Hakan Ayik arrested in Turkey

Australia’s most wanted man Hakan Ayik has been arrested in Turkey, with authorities revealing how the gangland figure claimed the Comancheros crown after Mark Buddle’s arrest. WATCH THE VIDEO

Australia’s most wanted man Hakan Ayik has been arrested in Turkey as part of a major crackdown on the Comanchero bikie gang.

Ayik headlined more than three dozen dawn arrests by Turkish authorities on Thursday morning local time including other Australian figures Hakan Arif, Baris Tukel and Erkan Dogan.

Ayik, known as “Big Hux”, is one of the biggest targets of the FBI and AFP’s investigation into the AN0M encrypted platform and has been running his drug empire out of Turkey ever since moving abroad in 2010.

The arrest by Turkish authorities is one of the most significant in the country’s underworld history.

Turkish Minister of Internal Affairs Ali Yerlikaya announced the arrests on his Twitter account about 6pm AEDT.

Hakan Ayik was seen in arrest vision released by Turkish authorities.

In his post, accompanied by a dramatic video of the raids, Minister Yerlikaya referenced other high profile incidents relating to the Comanchero bikie gang – including the murder of Mick Hawi in Sydney in 2018.

He then claimed the men arrested had been living in Turkey simply to “launder the income they obtained” as a result of alleged crimes, including drugs.

Mark Buddle

“Gang leaders, along with Turkish citizen organisation managers and members, as well as foreign national organisation members, come to our country and continue their criminal activities, and try to deliver the drugs they procured from South America to Australia, the Netherlands and Hong Kong via South Korea and South Africa, and commit them on a global scale,” his statement read.

“It has been determined that they are trying to launder the income they obtained from crimes in our country.”

Turkish police arrest Hakan Arif.

An estimated AUD$250 million in assets was seized during the raid, with vision showing the men laying on the ground in handcuffs after being arrested by heavily armed police.

Ayik rose to become one of the biggest drug importers in the world while living in exile in Turkey.

Minister Yerlikaya said 37 people had been ­detained, and referenced Duax Ngakuru, who was capturedalmost a year ago in Turkey, saying Ngakuru and Ayik together were “the leaders of the criminal organisation, took over the management of the organisation and continued their criminal ­activities”.

LISTEN TO SEASON TWO OF THE CRIM CITY PODCAST HERE:

He said Ayik had been under surveillance in Operation Cage for months and had renounced his Australian citizenship and changed his surname to Reis. Ayik’s Istanbul hotel Kings Cross was registered under the owner Hakan Reis, Minister Yerlikaya said.

Minister Yerlikaya said police would allege the criminal organisation “continues” its activities despite the incarceration of its alleged Australian leader Mark Douglas Buddle.

Buddle was detained by Turkish authorities in northern Cyprus in 2022 and deported to Darwin, paving the way for Ayik and Ngakuru to take over operations, Minister Yerlikaya said.

Baris Tukel getting arrested.

Buddle is currently on remand in Victoria’s maximum security Barwon Prison on charges of importing 160kg of cocaine. He has yet to enter any plea.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) acknowledged the latest operation and Ayik’s arrest in a statement.

“The AFP acknowledges the Turkish National Police for undertaking one of the most significant operations targeting alleged transnational serious organised criminals, some of whom are accused of illicit drug trafficking to Australia and around the world,” the statement read.

“Turkiye is a regional leader in the global fight against transnational serious organised crime.

“The AFP is posted in Turkiye and has witnessed the Turkish National Police’s determination in disrupting, arresting and charging alleged organised crime figures.

Turkish police arrest Hakan Arif.

“The AFP, through its international command, continues to work with its international partners to combat transnational serious organised crime.”

It is alleged that Ayik was wanted on an Interpol red notice by authorities in both Australia and the United States.

Hakan Arif is wanted on an Interpol red notice in Australia, while Baris Tukel is wanted on an Interpol red notice in the United States.

Despite the magnitude of the arrests, informed sources in both federal and state police forces said there is little likelihood that Ayik will return to Australia, because of his Turkish citizenship.

Underworld sources said they similarly Ayik did not expect to be extradited, and believed the notorious figure was steeling himself for doing some time in a Turkish prison.

Ayik’s wealth is estimated to be at more than AUD$800 million, due to his role as the head of the Comanchero and the drug cartel.

Originally published as Australia’s most wanted man Hakan Ayik arrested in Turkey