Mongols bikie Emmanuel Kappos caught up in Ghost app inquiry arrested at Melbourne Airport

A Mongols bikie accused of importing methamphetamine has been arrested at Melbourne Airport carrying nearly $10,000 in cash, allegedly trying to leave for the Middle East.

A Mongols bikie allegedly caught up in the Ghost app sting has been arrested at Melbourne Airport carrying nearly $10,000 in cash and on a last minute booking to the Middle East.

Emmanuel Kappos, 33, was arrested by Australian Federal Police on Tuesday night after he was allegedly connected to a large-scale methamphetamine importation involving foreign criminals through the encrypted Ghost application.

At a bail application in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, police alleged the Fawkner man booked a last minute ticket to Doha, the capital of Qatar, before he was arrested at the airport carrying nearly $10,000 in cash, a passport and a copy of his birth certificate.

The court heard Mr Kappos told Australian Border Force officials he had purchased tickets the day before and was leaving Australia due to personal reasons.

The alleged Mongols outlaw motorcycle gang member was charged by members attached to Ryloth, an arm of the sprawling Kraken probe which has targeted criminals using an encrypted app called Ghost.

The platform was created by a Sydney man and has in recent years been heavily used by gangland identities as a way of secretive communication.

Information gleaned from Ghost has led to Mr Kappos being charged with two counts of importing a commercial quantity of methamphetamine.

The maximum penalty for that offence is life imprisonment.

Two properties connected to the man were raided last week.

A warrant at a Fawkner property allegedly uncovered evidence the man had been communicating with foreign crime figures using Ghost to co-ordinate drug shipments.

“The AFP will allege in court the man was behind the importation of two separate consignments of methamphetamine, each weighing approximately 3kg,” a statement from the agency said.

“This amount of methamphetamine would equate to 60,000 street deals with an estimated street value of $5,550,000 had it not been found and seized.”

Police opposed Mr Kappos’ bail application, citing him as a flight risk.

Magistrate Tim Gattuso will hand down his decision on Thursday.

Originally published as Mongols bikie Emmanuel Kappos caught up in Ghost app inquiry arrested at Melbourne Airport