Mark Buddle’s ex-partner Mel Ter Wisscha released from Turkish immigration detention centre

The former partner of Comanchero boss Mark Buddle has been released from a Turkish immigration centre after almost six weeks in detention.

Mel Ter Wisscha, the former partner of Comanchero bikie boss Mark Buddle, has been released from a Turkish immigration detention centre.

The former partner of Comanchero boss Mark Buddle has been released from a Turkish immigration centre after almost six weeks in detention.

Mel Ter Wisscha was locked up in a compound outside of Istanbul after authorities detained her near the resort she lived at in Bodrum, on July 22, and claimed she had visa issues.

After 38 days of sharing a bunk bed with another woman and limited contact with the outside world, sources close to Ms Ter Wisscha told The Daily Telegraph she was released from custody last week, and was grateful to be reunited with her children.

It is understood Turkish authorities suddenly told Ms Ter Wisscha she was free to leave, but did not give any further explanation.

The Australian embassy in Istanbul had been working on Ms Ter Wisscha’s behalf to have her released, and it is likely Buddle’s deportation to Australia helped pave the way for her to be freed.

Mark Buddle and then-partner Mel Ter Wisscha smile as they celebrate a loved one’s birthday in September 2015.

Buddle was deported from Turkey to Australia in a secret mission on August 1, after spending three weeks locked up in Cyprus when he was detained during a night raid involving Interpol.

Australian Federal Police officers arrested Buddle at Darwin Airport when he landed, then flew him to Melbourne where he was charged over a $40 million cocaine seizure.

Buddle with Ms Ter Wisscha, who has now been reunited with her kids.

Police allege Buddle was linked to a transnational criminal syndicate operating out of Asia and Europe, where he sent encrypted messages using the ANOM app to co-ordinate the shipment of the cocaine from Hong Kong to Melbourne, in May last year.

He faces life in jail.

Buddle and Ter Wisscha left Australia six years ago and moved to Dubai with their two young children.

Australian Federal Police arrest Mark Buddle for allegedly importing more than 160kg of cocaine into Melbourne in May, 2021. Source: Australian Federal Police

The couple then split their time between Dubai and Istanbul, before they separated about a year ago, and Buddle moved to Northern Cyprus.

Ms Ter Wisscha told The Daily Telegraph at the time of Buddle’s arrest in Cyprus that she had not seen him for over 12 months.

“I haven’t seen Mark for a year. He’s the father of my children. They see him, I don’t,” Ms Ter Wisscha said at the time.

“I haven’t left Turkey. My kids have gone to and from (Northern Cyprus) but I have stayed away.”

Originally published as Mark Buddle’s ex-partner Mel Ter Wisscha released from Turkish immigration detention centre