What alleged drug kingpin Mostafa Baluch did before escape

A police theory that Mostafa Baluch escaped Sydney via private jet from Bankstown Airport appears to have gone cold.

Alleged bail jumper and international drug runner Mostafa Baluch spent the weekend having farewell BBQs with family and friends before cutting off his ankle bracelet and fleeing.

After controversially being released from prison last Friday on $4.1 million bail, a number of sources said the 33-year-old enjoyed his first weekend of freedom catching up with associates while also seemingly planning his escape.

Police had opposed bail claiming Baluch had allegedly financed the importation of 900 kgs of cocaine in to Australia and was a flight risk, but Magistrate Michael Crompton allowed him bail with strict conditions including reporting daily to Mona Vale police.

His family, none of whom is accused of any wrongdoing, will now lose their home in Bayview which was put up as security if he doesn’t give himself up.

Police are investigating whether alleged drug runner Mostafa Baluch escaped on a flight to Melbourne. Picture: Facebook

Police believe the escape was pre-planned.

It now appears Baluch had most likely been planning his escape well before being released. On Monday night at about 10.30pm he removed the ankle bracelet on Pittwater Rd in Bayview near his home and most likely got into a vehicle driven by associates and left the northern beaches for the city and western suburbs.

Police said they have an image of a Black Range Rover heading into the city on the M4 near Croydon about 2.33am on Tuesday morning.

“There are two men in the front and we believe Mr Baluch is hiding in the back seat of the car,” said Detective Superintendent Rob Critchlow, head of the NSW Organised Crime Squad.

He also said that police know Baluch is offering money in the criminal network for anyone to fly him out of NSW.

This is the car with Queensland plates that has been seized by police.

The Range Rover was seen travelling to the city. Police believe Baluch was hidden in the back seat.

Police are still investigating the possibility he may have tried to charter a flight to get him to Melbourne.

An initial theory suggested Baluch fled Sydney by chartering a late-night private jet from Bankstown Airport, however NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said on Thursday that probably wasn’t the case.

“There was intelligence that perhaps he flew out of Bankstown, which doesn’t appear to be correct,” Comm Fuller told 2GB’s Ben Fordham.

“There’s also intelligence that he is travelling south at the moment towards Victoria so we have officers on high alert”.

According to police, the Range Rover, with Queensland registration 861CU3, appears to have been bought some months ago and may belong to an associate of Baluch.

It is not known where he and the two men went between 10.30pm and 2.30am when they were spotted heading back into the city.

Superintendent Critchlow said police around Australia and overseas were involved in the Baluch manhunt.

“But we do believe that he is still in Australia,” he said.

Baluch is known to be well connected overseas and allegedly is linked to former Australian drug tsar, Vaso Ulic now in Serbia.