Mostafa Baluch found in Mercedes crossing NSW, Queensland border

A four-state manhunt for Mostafa Baluch spanning two weeks came to an end with a knock on the side of a truck by armed police at 1am. Watch the arrest video

A knock on the side of a truck put an end to a two-week national manhunt for fugitive and alleged drug financier Mostafa Baluch.

To the shouts of “armed police, hands up”, a freshly shaven and bald-headed Mostafa Baluch crawled out of the shipping container and into the waiting handcuffs of Queensland Police.

Incredible footage from the body-worn cameras of officers at the border checkpoint where Baluch, 33, was found about 1am on Wednesday shows how the 16-day manhunt came to an abrupt end.

After having the white shipping container unloaded from the back of the truck, officers can be seen walking to the back and opening the door.

As police shout “armed police, armed police … hands up, step away from the car,” Baluch walks out and is arrested.

Police then look through a black bag and pull out a large wad of $50 notes, while Baluch — who shaved his head and beard in an effort to disguise himself — sits on the roadside kerb.

Baluch will spend the night in custody at Southport Watchhouse before facing court on Thursday, when NSW Police officers will apply for him to be extradited back to Sydney.

Police arrested Baluch after he was found inside a grey Mercedes in a shipping container.

Australia’s most wanted man was found hiding inside a grey Mercedes SUV in the shipping container carried by a truck as it attempted to cross the NSW, Queensland border.

The 33-year-old went missing more than two weeks ago, days after being granted bail despite the opposition of police.

He is alleged to have organised a $270 million cocaine shipment from Ecuador.

Police believe the millionaire from Sydney’s northern beaches cut off his ankle bracelet and disappeared three days after controversially being bailed.

Dep Supt Rob Critchlow said NSW Police had been tipped off that Baluch planned to cross the border in a truck, and passed the information to Queensland police, who searched “dozens” of vehicles at Tweed Heads before finding the fugitive.

“We received information he was likely to be travelling in a truck to escape NSW but it came down to the diligence of the Queensland Police to check trucks coming through Tweed Heads,” Det Supt Critchlow said.

The Mercedes inside the shipping container where Baluch was found.

“They noticed some suspicious items with the container that wasn’t properly locked and other things that brought their attention … there was a knock on the side of the truck and he knocked back. He was a bit shocked and ultimately good police work secured his arrest.”

Baluch is currently being held at Southport Watchhouse, with Sydney detectives flying to Queensland on Wednesday to extradite him back into NSW to face court.

Det Supt Critchlow said police believe Baluch had stayed at “a number” of safe houses later raided by police as they chased him down, with cash and drug items seized onsite.

He said investigators were in the process of “dismantling” an entire drug syndicate allegedly connected to Baluch, and that the truck driver who was allegedly ferrying him across the border would be charged after being detained in Grafton.

“I can announce that the driver of the truck has been detained … He will be charged in relation to conveying the wanted person out of the jurisdiction, and will also face further inquiries … we’re going through that trucking company with a fine-tooth comb.”

Police were searching for Mostafa Baluch for more than two weeks.

Baluch is expected to be flown to Sydney on Thursday.

Australian Federal Police Commander Brett James said Baluch would also face charges from the AFP through drug ring busting Operation Ironside over allegedly importing another 40kg of cocaine.

“Mr Baluch was another example of an individual trying to evade justice, but also escape Australian waters and join up with his colleagues and continue to ply his trade overseas and cause harm to the Australian community,” Comm James said.

NSW Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said the hunt for Baluch had evolved into one of the “largest” Australia had ever seen, a “four-state operation involving police from NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland, as well as the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, the Australian Federal Police and Border Force.

“We have thrown everything at it, human resources, intelligence, international agencies, technologies from multiple agencies, that has brought us to the position of this apprehension,” Ast Comm Smith said.

“We can only keep thanking the constable who tapped on the side of the particular truck in question and obviously received an acknowledgment that there was an individual inside … we all started celebrating.”

The Baluch family mansion. Picture: John Grainger

He confirmed the $4 million Bayview mansion put up as Baluch’s bail surety y his family would be forfeited to the state.

“We are pursuing numerous assets by the syndicate and particularly this individual. It will not be the last asset seizure we will make.”

NSW Police Minister David Elliott said while he was “embarrassed” Baluch had evaded police for two weeks and two days, he was “thrilled” the man had been caught.

“I was embarrassed because I didn’t want our law enforcement partners overseas to think that we weren’t serious when it came to the drug trade … embarrassing that a suburban magistrate was responsible,” Mr Elliott said.

“I was embarrassed because of the cost to investigate him in the first place, let alone the cost of the last two weeks.”

“If it’s one dollar, it’s one dollar unnecessarily spent.”

But he added: “This is such a very, very happy day for policing … it’s proof positive to anybody that wants to do harm to our children, who wants to be involved in the drug trade, who wants to trade in the type of activities that we’ve seen both here and overseas, you are not safe in Australia.”