Comanchero Tarek Zahed reaches Lebanon as NSW Police battle to get him back home

After being stopped at the Turkish border last week, globetrotting bikie boss Tarek Zahed is now facing a new battle to get into his final destination of Lebanon.

Globe-trotting bikie boss Tarek Zahed is believed to have reached his intended final destination of Lebanon but is now believed to be locked in a battle with authorities to get entry into the country and may even be forced to return to Australia.

The national Comanchero sergeant-at-arms legally left Australia last Thursday night, despite both federal authorities and NSW Police making extensive efforts to keep him in the country.

The Daily Telegraph understands that after being stopped at the Turkish border last week and spending several days in limbo, Zahed made it across the Mediterranean Sea and into Lebanon.

Tarek Zahed leaves the Downing Centre in Sydney following his extradition back to NSW from Victoria in April, 2021. Picture: Christian Gilles

The 41-year-old was granted permission to leave the country by the Australian Border Force after he told them NSW Police informed him that there was a threat to his life.

NSW Police are not commenting on Zahed’s claim, although he had previously said he needed to go to Lebanon to see his sick aunt — a story they didn't buy.

BIKIE BAD BLOOD

Underworld sources have told The Daily Telegraph that there is bad blood between a recently released Lone Wolf bikie and Zahed. Sources in NSW Police said they were not aware of friction between the two. The leadership of the Comanchero has been in turmoil for nearly two decades, culminating in the assassination of former boss Mick Hawi outside a Rockdale gym in February 2018.

The flamboyant former bikie boss had stepped down as president after being jailed for the infamous airport brawl with the Hells Angels in 2009. His loyal mate, Duax Ngakuru — known as Dax — took over running the club in 2010 while Hawi did his stint in jail, accepting responsibility for the death of Hells Angel associate Anthony Zervas during the brawl and in the process winning him the loyalty of many in the club.

It was a short-lived reign with Dax leaving Australia in late 2010 with rumours there was a contract on his head.

BUDDLE MOVES ON IN

Comancheros Boss Mark Buddle.

The vacuum at the top of the criminal outlaw motor cycle group but was quickly filled by Maroubra boy Mark Buddle.

Buddle, stepped into the breach and declared himself national President and quickly stamped his authority on the club.

In 2016, feeling the heat from a number of police inquires into his activities, including being a person of interest in several murders, he fled Australia and set up residence in Dubai.

Buddle then turned to the towering figure of Tarek Zahed to take over running his operations.

AN0M STING STILL HITTING GANGS

Many Comanchero have recently fallen foul of the law after communicating via the encrypted phone device AN0M, which was later revealed to be a Trojan horse app which allowed Australian Federal Police and the FBI to view their messages.

A number of sources said Zahed may have decided to leave the country because he is concerned about the content of the messages intercepted by law enforcement. It is now believed the gang has gone back to using Cypher-encrypted phones.

Zahed was acknowledged as being the major figure in the bikie club doing the bidding for Buddle but his departure has left another hole at the top.

A number of sources said another trusted Comanchero known only as “Bones” is likely to be considered next in line although there are other members who may also want a go at running things while Zahed is away.

Zahed, 41, was accompanied by his wife and their young child on board Qatar Airways flight QR909 to Doha last Thursday night, before the trio took a connecting flight to Turkey.

While that was meant to be a simple stop before continuing on to Lebanon, Zahed was halted at the Turkish border.

Authorities were hoping the high-ranking bikie would be sent back to Doha and put on a flight to Australia, but he is understood to have since made it to Lebanon via a different route.

Intervention from the Australian Crime Intelligence Commission is understood to have resulted in another one of Zahed’s applications being refused, after the ABF initially approved it.

Bilal Haouchar.

But despite the ongoing hope of the ACIC and NSW Police that the high-ranking bikie would not be given an exemption to travel during the Covid-19 pandemic, his approval came through last week.

Now in Lebanon, sources suggest Zahed may meet up with fellow former Sydney criminal Bilal Haouchar.

Haouchar has long been regarded as a close ally of the Comanchero, particularly fellow exile Buddle.