Fugitive Hakan Ayik loses millions as Turkish police seize assets

Hakan Ayik has been on the run from Australian police for 13 years but the noose in his chosen haven of Turkey appears to be tightening.

The assets of Australia’s most wanted fugitive, Hakan Ayik, have been frozen by Turkish authorities amid a crackdown on criminal wealth.

Hundreds of bank accounts, homes, properties and companies belonging to dual-Australian citizens have been restrained in Turkey, and their owners – many associated with the underworld – have been asked to prove they were ­obtained legally.

Among the assets frozen is the infamous Kings Cross Hotel in Istanbul, which Ayik part-owns and has been known to frequent in his 13-year run from authorities.

With a fortune valued at $1 billion, Ayik is one of the most wanted men in the world and was caught in the FBI’s AN0M sting operation that dismantled a global drug syndicate and landed hundreds in jail.

However, 44-year-old Ayik, alleged to be one of the biggest drug dealers in the world with links to the Sinaloa cartel in Mexico, has still managed to evade police despite the arrests of his close associates, Mark Buddle and Duax Ngakuru, in the past year.

Hakan Ayik has been living on the run in Turkey.

He has been living overseas since he was linked to a $230 million heroin importation.

That may now become more difficult than ever, should Ayik be unable to prove his fortune is not from proceeds of crime.

The Australian Federal Police and Turkish police chiefs met here last month and made it a priority to capture Ayik.

Mark Buddle

Duax Ngakuru.

The Saturday Telegraph has been told that, until recently, criminals had paid monthly bribes of one per cent of their earnings to corrupt Turkish authorities in order to remain free.

But Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who narrowly won the election in May to retain power, is understood to have demanded a clampdown of criminal activity, particularly on those who hold dual citizenship.

Who's who

Alleged syndicate members the AFP will allege had been importing illicit drugs into Australia.

Hakan Ayik, 42

Former Australian Comanchero bikie associate and accused international drug smuggling kingpin who is on the run in Turkey. Outed by the Australian Federal Police as the key influencer who spread the AN0M encrypted devices into the underworld.

Erkan Dogan

Former Australian member of the Comanchero bikie gang, indicted by the FBI on racketeering charges which allege he was an influencer and a distributor of the AN0M encrypted devices. Listed as a fugitive in Turkey.

Yusuf Ayik, 20, of Brighton le-Sands, Sydney

Hakan Ayik’s nephew, active Labor Party member and Macquarie University student. Charged with supply a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug.

Ayhan Dogan, 23, of Brighton le-Sands, Sydney

Another nephew of Hakan Ayik, and brother to Erkan Dogan. Charged with supply a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, possess a controlled drug and import a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug. Alleged by police to have ripped off a fellow alleged syndicate member by selling him 1kg of fake drugs, before refunding him.

Hakan Calason, 37, of Carlton, Sydney

A delivery driver for FedEx, he is alleged to be a trusted insider who took delivery of drugs when they arrived via air freight into Australia, and contacted other members of the alleged syndicate to deliver the drugs. Charged with conspiracy to important a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug.

Jiun Loong Chai, 33, of Chester Hill, Sydney

Employed by an as-yet unnamed freight forwarding company, he is alleged to have been a member of the same syndicate. Charged with take part in the supply of a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug. Police allege he was ripped off by Ayhan Dogan who police claim sold him $75,000 worth of fake drugs, before refunding him.

Turkey has become a haven for major underworld figures over the past decade, including a slew of Australians with links to bikie gangs.

After meeting Turkish counterparts last month, AFP Assistant Commissioner Nigel Ryan said arresting Ayik was their top priority.

“He’s living the high life, he’s fat and rich off the drug sales that are coming into Australia, killing our kids,” Asst Comm Ryan said.

“And he cares for nothing. He cares about making money. He’s just a greedy individual. We can bring him to justice. And we’re very, very fortunate that we have fantastic partners with the Turkish national police.

“They’re working tirelessly with us to bring him to justice and all those others who may think that they’re able to avoid law enforcement around the world.”.”

Ayik’s lawyer in Turkey did not respond to questions.