Restaurant owner Mostafa Baluch refused bail on drug importation charges

A multi-millionaire northern beaches restaurant owner was allegedly behind an attempt to import more than 900kg of cocaine into Australia.

A multi-millionaire Sydney restaurateur was allegedly behind an attempt to import more than 900kg of cocaine into Australia.

Mostafa Baluch, 33, who lives in a waterfront home in the northern beaches suburb of Bayview was targeted by Strike Force Jillabenan — set up by NSW Police and the NSW Crime Commission — to investigate the supply of cocaine across Sydney.

On June 3 a search warrant was executed at a residence of Baluch on Pittwater Rd by NSW Police, with the assistance of the Australian Federal Police.

They allegedly found $62,700 cash and another $12,000 in US currency as well as four mobile phones — two which were encrypted — a small amount of cocaine, steroids and jewellery.

Millionaire northern beaches businessman Mostafa Baluch.

Baluch was the owner of Cervo restaurant at Northbridge, which closed down several years ago. His family are still well known in the northern suburbs as successful restaurateurs.

Baluch was charged with possession of anabolics, knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime, suppling a prohibited drug, and contravening a requirement of a section 3LA order.

He was refused bail.

NSW detectives on Wednesday laid further charges of conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug. Baluch appeared in Central Local Court and was refused bail.

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

The operation began almost two years ago when detectives from the State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad got a tip about a person gambling massive amounts of money at The Star casino.

Police allege during the investigation they uncovered a major transnational organised crime syndicate importing drugs across Australia as well as North and South America.

Cocaine seized as part of Strike Force Jillabenan.

After receiving intelligence reports from NSW Police the US navy seized 870kg of cocaine when they intercepted a vessel travelling in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Colombia in October last year.

In April this year following further inquiries by the NSW Police Force, the US Coast Guard seized a further 900kg of cocaine, after intercepting a second vessel travelling off the coast of Ecuador.

Police will allege in court that both seizures formed part of a conspiracy to supply a total of 3000kg of cocaine — including the 1770kg seized — which has a total estimated potential street value of $900 million.

Powder Keg is a special investigation into Australia's Cocaine Crisis.

As part of ongoing inquiries, Strike Force Jillabenan investigators constructed a replica of the items seized in April, which was taken to a storage facility in the Lake Macquarie area.

Watch Australia’s Cocaine Crisis Sunday 7.30pm on Sky News.