Police fear bikie gang war explosion after Comanchero boss Mark Buddle’s bounty revelations

Police fear retaliation attacks on the streets of Sydney after the person who approved the $20 million bounty on Comanchero boss Mark Buddle’s head was revealed.

Revelations of a $20 million bounty on the head of Comanchero commander Mark Buddle has police fearing retaliation attacks on the streets of Sydney, as internal tensions in the bikie gang threaten to bubble over.

Messages uncovered during the international AN0M sting, where federal police infiltrated what were thought to be uncompromisable communication devices, revealed one of Buddle’s long time mates approved attempts to have him killed by a rival cartel.

Hakan “Big Hux” Ayik was allegedly the one who green lighted a bid to assassinate Buddle about two years ago in Dubai, where he lived with his partner Mel Ter Wisscha and their family after leaving Australia in 2016.

But news of a bounty on Buddle - the Comanchero bikie gang’s international commander - has inflamed tensions on the streets of Sydney, with police sources saying the emergence of news of the hit has them worried of retaliation.

It’s alleged Hakan “Big Hux” Ayik approved the hit on Buddle.

Comanchero boss Mark Buddle.

The approval of a contract on Buddle by Ayik has been the talk of the underworld ever since it was revealed.

Several underworld sources said there was now a lot of distrust on the streets of Sydney and Melbourne off the back of the news.

“Everyone knew there was a contract to get Buddle, but no one knew it was ‘Hux’ that had OK’d it,” said an underworld source.

“The figure a couple of years ago was more like $7m, not $20m.

“(This news) has shocked a lot of people, and there are a few different cliques who are pissed off.”

Hakan Ayik at a pharmaceutical factory in India.

Both Buddle and Ayik grew up in Sydney, and met through the Comanchero.

Ayik was an associate of the club through his links to drug importation, while Buddle was an out-and-out bikie who rose through the ranks to first become National President and later International Commander.

When in Sydney, Ayik was considered the club’s money man, and a genius at importing drugs and cleaning money.

But he fled Australia in 2010 to avoid arrest over a massive heroin shipment and moved to Turkey – where he is a dual citizen – from where he has become one of the world’s biggest drug traffickers.

When Buddle moved overseas he instead chose to live in luxury in the United Arab Emirates.

According to the AN0M intelligence, by the time a hit man got to Dubai to carry out the contract, Buddle had already left the country.

Comanchero bikie boss Mark Buddle with ex-partner Mel Terwisscha.

For a short time he went to Turkey where Istanbul quickly became a mecca for Aussie criminals, especially those linked to the Comanchero, to hang out with Ayik at his establishment called the Kings Cross Hotel.

Buddle would frequently spend time in the Turkish capital, but there were rumours that he was eventually asked to leave by Ayik because of the attention his high profile was bringing on all of them.

He then spent time in Iraq and Lebanon, before going to Northern Cyprus where he was eventually arrested last year and deported to Turkey, and then brought back to Australia where he now faces drug importation charges.

Ayik still has a reputation as one of the most powerful members of the Comanchero, who makes enormous money for his associates.

“’Hux’ is still free making big money and Mark is in jail (on remand), and ‘Hux’ has made a lot of money for people over the years,” he said.

“You’d think to calm things down and for the good of everyone they can put it past them, and let it just be water under the bridge, but you’ve got two big egos,” another source said.