Guy Habkouk makes bail bid over huge drug importation charges

A Sydney man who was extradited from Turkey amid allegedly using a false Venezuelan passport faces allegations he orchestrated one of the largest heroin importations in recent Australian history.

AFP officers arrest Guy Habkouk at Sydney International Airport on May 27 following his deportation from Turkey. Picture: AFP

A Sydney man has failed in his bid to be released on bail to attend a drug rehabilitation centre after he was extradited from Turkey on allegations he orchestrated one of the largest heroin importations in recent Australian history.

Guy Habkouk, 35, sought bail in Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday after he was charged with importing 19kg of methamphetamine, which is a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, between May 18 and 25, 2021.

An Australian Federal Police statement said at the time of Habkouk’s arrest the father had been based in a number of countries since March 2020 and was also responsible for organising the importation of 347.9kg of heroin into Sydney in December 2020, while he was based in Thailand.

It will also be alleged Habkouk has extensive links to transnational organised crime groups, which helped facilitate this importation.

AFP Eastern Command investigators assisted by the AFP’s Offshore Disruption Taskforce Operation Gain arrested Habkouk at Sydney International Airport on May 27 following his deportation from Turkey.

Guy Habkouk was charged with importing 19kg of methamphetamine, after he was extradited from Turkey in May. Picture: AFP

The AFP’s Operation Gain notified Turkish authorities through the AFP’s international post in Turkey that Habkouk, the alleged organiser, was suspected to be in their jurisdiction.

Turkish authorities advised the AFP they had detained Habkouk in January and would be deporting him to Australia.

Habkouk sought bail in Downing Centre Local Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

In court, a prosecutor said police alleged between April 29 and May 27, 2021 Habkouk was involved in a “very sophisticated criminal syndicate” that involved unknown members domestically and internationally and he had also been identified through the ANOM app sting.

The court heard Habkouk had been in Thailand but was arrested in Turkey allegedly with a fraudulent Venezuelan passport, using his image.

It will be further alleged Habkouk discussed the arrival of the consignment of drugs with other men and used code words such as “wrap and fry” to refer to cocaine and meth.

The prosecutor said Habkouk and the men allegedly stood to make $350,000 to $400,000 from the importation of the 19kg of drugs, adding police will allege there were other imports drugs concealed in tiles and tea bags.

Habkouk’s barrister said the case against his client for the alleged 19kg importation was “circumstantial” and relied on the ANOM encrypted app bust, which was the subject of a court proceedings into the admissibility of evidence obtained from it.

He submitted those court proceedings would likely cause a delay to Habkouk’s case.

The barrister said Habkouk needed and was “willing” to undergo drug rehabilitation and had a placement at a full-time centre, adding he also had mental health issues.

A $550,000 surety was also offered as was electronic ankle monitoring.

Magistrate Julie Huber refused to grant bail noting the strong prosecution case, noting he was not allegedly an “underlying player” in the syndicate, and there was a risk of failure to appear given the false passport.