Hunt for millionaire restaurateur Mostafa Baluch after bail breach

A millionaire northern beaches restaurateur who was charged with drug offences earlier this year has gone missing after escaping from his monitoring bracelet, authorities say.

A millionaire Northern Beaches restaurateur who allegedly tried to import more than 900kg of cocaine into Australia as part of an international drug ring has gone on the run, having cut off his ankle tracking bracelet just days after being granted bail.

Mostafa Baluch, 33, was arrested and charged with drug offences earlier this year after a major police raid of his waterfront home in Bayview in June.

On Friday he was granted bail in Central Local Court on several conditions, including that he wear an ankle bracelet tracking device and put up a $4 million surety.

But on Monday evening the tracking device went dead, with police now in a desperate hunt to find him.

Police are searching for Mostafa Baluch – aged 33 – after he allegedly breached his bail. Source: Facebook

The ankle tracking device, which is made by a private company, was found cut off and ditched next to Bayview Golf Club on Cabbage Tree Rd in Bayview.

Police sources said they had serious fears Baluch could travel overseas even though investigations into him are far from over.

NSW Police Detective Superintendent Rob Critchlow, Commander of the Organised Crime Squad, said a nationwide manhunt was underway and in addition to tracking Baluch’s final movements, police would also be ensuring he was not hiding out with any of his known associates.

“He has a lot to lose, he’s facing very serious charges which carry very serious jail time. A lot of work has gone into investigating and securing evidence against this person ... and we hope the public can assist us,” Det Supt Critchlow said.

“If anyone is in his circle of friends or family they should also keep us updated, because you can be sure we will be visiting anyone who we know is connected to this person and asking them to assist us.

“You can be sure we will be visiting anyone who we know is connected to this person and ... we’ll be using our powers to make sure he’s not hiding in someone’s house.”

Mostafa Baluch has gone missing from this home in Bayview. Picture: John Grainger

Det Supt Critchlow said efforts would now be made to recover Baluch’s home, which was put up to as a $4 million surety to secure his release.

In the wake of last week’s decision by NSW Local Court Magistrate Michael Crompton to grant Baluch bail, Commonwealth prosecutors made an immediate bid for it to be revoked.

But with Baluch’s unknown whereabouts rendering that application essentially useless, it was withdrawn on Tuesday.

“The prisoner appears to have absconded overnight by removing or escaping from his monitoring bracelet,” prosecutor Adrian Williams told the NSW Supreme Court.

“The Crown seeks to withdraw the detention application, if detained he will be brought back before the local court.”

Justice Robert Hulme told the court Baluch’s disappearance might be “another example” used to show police “are troubled by the bail decision using electronic monitoring”.

Baluch, who was the owner of Cervo restaurant in Northbridge before it closed down, was charged with possession of anabolics, knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime, supplying a prohibited drug, and contravening a requirement of a section 3LA order.

Mostafa Baluch, 33, was arrested and charged with drug offences earlier this year. Picture: NSW Police

A few weeks later, detectives laid further charges of conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, for which he was also refused bail.

Police allege Baluch is part of a major international drug cartel which attempted to import 900kg into Australia before being intercepted off the coast of Ecuador by the US Coast Guard.

A manhunt is now underway for Baluch after he allegedly breached his bail conditions, with police urging anyone who sees him to contact police.

Baluch was last seen at Pittwater Road, Bayview, about 10.40pm on Monday and is believed to still be in the Northern Beaches area.

He was arrested mid-year as part of a major international drug sting. Picture: NSW Police Force

His arrest was part of an international drug sting with the US Drug Enforcement Agency into an alleged organised criminal syndicate involved in a conspiracy to supply three tonnes of cocaine throughout NSW.

The operation began after a tip-off about a person gambling large amounts of money at The Star casino.

During their investigations, police allegedly uncovered a major transnational drug ring operating across Australia and North and South America.

The discovery led to the US Coast Guard in April seizing 900kg of cocaine, after intercepting a second vessel travelling off the coast of Ecuador.

Baluch is due to front court for a bail hearing on Tuesday.