Emmanuel Vamvoukakis: Alleged Comanchero refused bail after AN0M bust

An allegedly high-ranking Comanchero bikie has been refused bail despite his mum putting up her home to secure his release over an alleged plot to import cocaine from Greece.

An allegedly high-ranking Illawarra bikie has been refused bail despite his mum putting up her home to secure his release, after the nation’s top cops foiled an alleged plot to import Greek cocaine hidden inside olive oil tins into Australia.

Alleged Comanchero sergeant-at-arms of the south coast chapter, Emmanuel Vamvoukakis, 40, was arrested in the raid after Australian Federal Police blew the door off his Mount Keira house and allegedly seized $10,000 in cash, a money counter and Comanchero colours as part of the AFP’s AN0M sting.

Emmanuel Vamvoukakis. Picture: Facebook

He was charged with conspiring to import cocaine, dealing with the proceeds of crime, and directing the activities of a criminal organisation.

Mr Vamvoukakis faced Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday, where prosecutors from the Commonwealth DPP said the AFP had been monitoring his messages, allegedly finding he had paid an associate in Greece $50,000 for 1kg of cocaine, which would be delivered in aluminium tins of olive oil to his Sanctuary Point home.

His lawyer applied for bail on Mr Vamvoukakis’s behalf on Wednesday, offering up a $500,000 surety and a security on his mum’s home in the Illawarra, a curfew condition, and the surrender of his passport.

He told the court that while detectives had allegedly captured Mr Vamvoukakis dropping $50,000 cash off in the boot for a car in Newtown to pay for the drugs, there was no way to tell if his client was behind the encrypted messages.

“The issue is proving that my client was the one operating the device,” he said.

“There are surveillance-style photographs but whether he’s the person operating the device is another question.”

Police allege Mr Vamvoukakis tried to recruit other people to take the “parcel” after it had arrived in the country in exchange for $10,000.

In documents tendered to the court, it is alleged police recorded encrypted messages between Mr Vamvoukakis and his Greek associate, who agreed on April 11, to send a “brick”- or one kilo of cocaine - to Australia at a price of $50,000.

Emmanuel Vamvoukakis was arrested under AFP-led Operation Ironside. Picture: AFP

After days of discussion, police allege the pair agreed on a drop off-point for the $50,000 cocaine payment, with the Greek associate directing Mr Vamvoukakis to Walenore Ave Newtown.

Police allege detectives watched as Mr Vamvoukakis allegedly dropped the cash, which was wrapped in a brown paper bag, in the boot of the car on May 4.

Following the cash drop off, police allege in the documents Mr Vamvoukakis messaged his Greek contact, giving him a Sanctuary Point delivery address.

Over the next several days, Mr Vamvoukakis allegedly complained to the Greek man that he was taking too long and that “organising a deal shouldn’t be this hard,” court documents state.

However, messages obtained by police allegedly showed the associate reassuring Mr Vamvoukakis, sending him photos of the cocaine and the distillation process he was undertaking to purify the cocaine.

Early on the morning of June 6, the AFP raided Mr Vamvoukakis’s Mt Keira Road home, allegedly finding $10,000 cash, a money counter and Comanchero OMCG colours.

Despite his lawyer telling the court the case against Mr Vamvoukakis wasn’t as strong as it seemed, Magistrate Gabriel Fleming disagreed, saying it appeared “very strong”.

“The nature of the offences is extremely serious to the extent they concern illicit drugs,” she said.

“Due to the seriousness of the charges and the risk of interfering with witnesses I don’t accept the bail conditions put forward.”

Mr Vamvoukakis will remain on remand in custody until he next appears before the court in August.