Hakan Ayik’s arrest: What happens next and how it is expected to affect cocaine and ice prices in Australia

Former Sydney drug dealer Hakan Ayik was among 42 people who faced a judge on Monday following raids in Turkey.

Accused drug kingpin Hakan Ayik has been remanded in custody after appearing in court in Istanbul.

The former Sydney drug dealer was among 42 people who faced a judge on Monday following raids in Turkey.

The Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s office accused Ayik of being a leader of a criminal network operating in Turkey.

His former school mate at James Cook High School in Kogorah, Sydney, Duax Ngakuru was also remanded.

Ayik had been accused of money laundering offences in Turkey, linked to his alleged criminal empire that was able to move as much as 10 to 15 tonnes of illicit drugs.

Baris Turkel and Jimmy Avaijan were also remanded, with 18 of 42 arrested last week behind bars awaiting trial.

Ayik has been on the run from Australia since 2010 when he was linked to a $230 million heroin shipment.

He was accused of being the leader of the Aussie cartel who moved as much as $1.5 billion of drugs into Australia each year.

The Australian Federal Police have been on a global hunt for Ayik and helped Turkish authorities with intelligence.

Ayik will never face court in Australia because he renounced his citizenship as police closed in on him.

The AFP has accused him of being a “mastermind of misery” because of the drugs he had imported into Australia.

His arrest was likely to disrupt the supply of cocaine and ice to Australia’s Comanchero bikie gang and push up prices of illegal drugs on the streets.

“We allege these men have extensive connections to the Comanchero Outlaw Motorcycle Gang and the Alameddine organised crime family in Australia,” Acting Deputy Commissioner Crime Grant Nicholls said.

“We allege they have an extensive network of criminal associates, located in countries ranging from Colombia, the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea, New Zealand, Lebanon.

“We allege two of the men arrested can source or move illegal shipments of drugs anywhere in the world.”

Turkish police had been monitoring Ayik’s movements for months as he allegedly continued to run his drug business from Istanbul.

The Turkish court hearing will be based on allegations of money laundering offending in Turkey, not Australia.

Hakan Ayik in arrest vision released by Turkish authorities.

He had been the subject of Operation Gain, with Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Nigel Ryan doggedly pursuing him for more than a decade.

Asst Commissioner Ryan said before his arrest that Ayik was living a luxury lifestyle off the misery of Australian drug users and their families.

“He’s living the high life, he’s fat and rich off the drug sales that are coming into Australia, killing our kids,” AFP Assistant Commissioner Nigel Ryan said on the sidelines of a global police conference in Sydney in June.

“And he cares for nothing. He cares about making money. He’s just a greedy individual.”

Turkish police arrested Ayik’s schoolmate Ngakuru last year in a sign that the net was tightening on the alleged kingpin.

Turkish police in vision taken during the sting.

Hakan Arif was also detained, along with Hasan Topal who was wanted for questioning over a murder in Melbourne.

Police had wanted to speak with Topal, a former model, about the 2017 shooting deaths of Muhamed Yucel and Zabi Ezedyar in Keysborough.

The mistaken identity shooting was described as “callous” and “stupid” by police at the time.

Australians Baris Tukel, Erkan Dogan and Jimmy Awaijan were also arrested in Turkey.

Turkish police seized more than $250 million in cash in raids linked to Ayik, however the hunt was on for more of his cash.

Ayik had been linked to the up-market Istanbul suburb of Zekeriyakoy, where homes with designer swimming pools sell for more than $3 million.

From left, Hakan Arif (Little Hux) and Hakan Ayik (Big Hux) in Dubai. Picture: Network News

Real estate listing described the hilltop region as the “most beautiful part of Istanbul”.

Police have been chasing Ayik since he fled Australia in 2010 after he had become a suspect in a $230 million heroin importation.

Turkish police flew into Sydney in June to attend a global transnational organised crime conference run by the Australian Federal Police.

Ayik’s capture was discussed at the meeting held on a secure floor of a Sydney hotel.

Assistant Commissioner Ryan said in June that Turkish police had Ayik on their radar.

“They’re working tirelessly with us to bring him to justice and all those other people that may think that they’re able to avoid law enforcement around the world,” Asst Comm Ryan.

Ayik was on a secretive target list kept by the Australian Federal Police who have been apprehended as part of Operation Gain.

His arrest comes after the AFP extradited Tse Chi Lop in December 2022, accused of drug trafficking.

The Chinese national had been previously described as the Asian El Chapo for his alleged links to the drug trade.

Chung Chak Lee, allegedly an associate of Tse, was extradited to Australia in June 2022.

Sydney man Mark Buddle was extradited from Turkey in August 2022 over charges related to a 160kg cocaine importation worth $40 million.

Originally published as Hakan Ayik’s arrest: What happens next and how it is expected to affect cocaine and ice prices in Australia