Police believe Mostafa Baluch flew from Sydney in private jet

An international manhunt is underway for Australia’s ‘Pablo Escobar’ with police investigating whether alleged drug kingpin Mostafa Baluch plotted his escape using a private jet.

An international manhunt is underway for ‘Australia’s Pablo Escobar’ as police probe whether Mostafa Baluch plotted his escape using a late-night private jet flight from Bankstown Airport hours after cutting off his tracking bracelet on Monday night.

Baluch’s vanishing act has left police seething, given just three days earlier they had vigorously opposed his application for bail in the NSW Local Court where he is ­facing a life sentence on drug importation charges.

Police charged the 33-year-old restaurateur in June over his alleged involvement in a massive 900kg importation of cocaine — worth an approximate $270 million — into Australia from Ecuador earlier this year.

But despite the seriousness of the charges, Magistrate ­Michael Crompton approved Baluch’s bail on Friday.

Police Minister David Elliott on Wednesday said police were furious the alleged kingpin had slipped through the system and police were now back at square one.

Mostafa Baluch – aged 33 – is facing drugs charges and is wanted in relation to breach of bail. Picture: Facebook

The Bayview home where Mostafa has gone missing from.

“This guy was our Pablo Escobar. This guy was part of an international racket with levels of drugs we haven’t seen before. And the police warned the court he was a bad guy,” he told 2GB’s Ben Fordham.

“To say I’m infuriated would be an understatement.”

While there is no update on Baluch’s whereabouts, international law enforcement authorities had been warned Baluch was on the run, Mr Elliott said.

“Rest assured, through the AFP, we have contacted all our international law enforcement partners and we can’t leave any stone unturned,” he said.

While police had poured significant resources into the manhunt, he warned police had a tough task ahead of them.

Bankstown Airport.

NSW Police Minister David Elliott. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

“Make no mistake this will be a tough job to get this guy back. We’ve got the technology, the manpower and international law enforcement credentials but we’ve also got to explain to some of those international law enforcement organisations how he was lost.”

Even with conditions that included him putting up a $4 million surety and wearing an ankle bracelet, police opposed him walking free, a position that now appears justified and which has led Police Minister David Elliott to call on the courts to take notice.

“This is certainly not a failure on the (part of) police,” Mr Elliott said.

“The guy has broken the law by, from what I understand, allegedly removing his tracking device. That says to me that he doesn’t deserve the (freedom) court has ­afforded him,” he said.

It is the second time in a week that Mr Elliott has raised the issue of bail, after slain teenage gangster Salim Hamze was allowed to walk free after being caught with a pistol only weeks before being gunned down in a Guildford street alongside his father Toufik last Wednesday.

While unable to comment publicly, privately senior police are furiously questioning how a man they allege is involved in one of the biggest drug importations in NSW was allowed to walk free on Friday afternoon.

“If this bloke is getting bail while facing a life sentence on one of the biggest drug seizures in NSW right now, does every other person on drugs charges in the state just get bail too,” one source asked.

While Baluch’s whereabouts are unknown, sources said they are confident he is still currently in Australia.

Baluch is understood to have completed his daily bail check-in at Mona Vale Police Station on Monday.

Baluch during his arrest. Picture: NSW Police Force

His ankle bracelet was found discarded near a golf club. Picture: Facebook

He returned to his multimillion-dollar waterfront home on Pittwater Rd in Bayview where he was last seen by his family about 10.40pm.

The alarm indicating Bal­uch’s ankle bracelet had been tampered with went off about 10.45pm and by the time police arrived at its location, next to Bayview Golf Course on Cabbage Tree Rd, he was nowhere to be seen.

NSW Police Detective Superintendent Rob Critchlow, Commander of the ­Organised Crime Squad, said a nationwide manhunt was under way and would include ensuring he is not hiding out with any associates.

“He has a lot to lose, he’s facing very serious charges which carry very serious jail time,” Det Supt Critchlow said.

NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman and the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions were both contacted for comment, but declined.