Ahmad Nazzal, Michael Mate: An0m accused face court

The price of bail for those charged after police infiltrated the An0m encrypted app and cracked an alleged international drug network has been revealed in court – and it is staggering.

Some people charged after the AFP infiltrated encrypted app An0m have paid eye-watering amounts to be released on bail, a court has heard.

One man accused of importing drugs after Australian police infiltrated an encrypted messaging app and blew open an alleged international criminal network put up a whopping $10 million to secure his release on bail, a court has heard.

In 2021, the Australian Federal Police infiltrated an encrypted messaging network called An0m – resulting in more than 1000 arrests worldwide and more than 200 in Australia alone under Operation Ironside.

The AFP will allege in court those arrested are linked to criminal enterprises, including outlaw motorcycle gangs and various international crime networks.

Banksia dad Ahmad Nazzal was among those arrested, and is one of dozens fighting a collective legal challenge as to whether it was legal for the AFP to infiltrate An0m.

Ahmad Nazzal at Downing Centre Local Court.

Ahmad Nazzal.

Nazzal has been charged with dealing with money or property worth more than $100,000 and intending it to become an instrument of crime and two counts of conspiring to important a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs.

On Tuesday a court heard he had put up an eye-popping $10 million security for his release on bail, along with a host of strict conditions.

At Downing Centre Local Court, Magistrate Jenny Atkinson reduced Nazzal’s security to $9.2 million by consent and introduced a curfew between 11pm and 5am.

Michael Thomas Mate at Downing Centre Local Court on July 4.

Previously, Nazzal was only allowed to leave home at any time for bail reporting, medical and legal appointments, to drop off and collect his children from soccer training, ballet practice, acrobat training and Arabic school, and to attend work between 6.30am and 5pm.

Another An0m accused, Michael Thomas Mate, put up a substantial $1.6 million for his release on bail.

He was charged with importing a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs – namely, 270kg of methamphetamine – and dealing with crime proceeds of $400,000.

Mate also appeared before Ms Atkinson, where his effective house arrest was also eased in favour of a curfew between 9pm and 4am.

Michael Thomas Mate at Downing Centre Local Court on July 4.

Previously Mate was unable to leave his Erskine Park address at all except to attend work, report on bail, or attend legal or medical appointments.

Mate will still be required to report daily to police, wear an electronic monitoring bracelet, and avoid international points of departure.

Like Nazzal, Mate is also part of the collective legal challenge to the AFP’s use of the An0m app.

The pair, along with more than 50 co-accused, will face Magistrate Robert Williams on July 17 as the magistrate considers the ongoing application.