Accused cocaine drug smuggler Mostafa Baluch sent back to Sydney, NSW

A millionaire and accused drug smuggler who allegedly tried to cross the border in a shipping container – and was found when police gave a knock on the wall - will be returned to NSW.

A SYDNEY millionaire and accused drug smuggler who allegedly tried to cross the border in a shipping container will be returned to NSW.

Mostafa Baluch was found by police in a Mercedes in the back of a shipping container allegedly attempting to enter into Queensland at the Gold Coast border about 1am on Wednesday.

It is alleged Baluch was a part of an attempt to smuggle 900kg, valued at about $270 million, into Australia.

Fugitive Mostafa Baluch has been found in a Mercedes. Picture: NSW Police

Baluch, who was allegedly on the run for two weeks, was arrested when he was found hiding inside the boot of a Mercedes-Benz inside a shipping container.

Baluch has been in isolation in the Southport Watchhouse and had to be telephoned in the Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday for an extradition hearing.

Baluch’s lawyer Nicholas Andrews, of Sans Law Associates, consented to Baluch’s extradition.

Magistrate Mark Howden ordered he be taken into NSW Police custody to appear in Court in Sydney Central Local Court on or before November 12.

Baluch was silent through the proceeding except when Magistrate Howden asked if he could hear.

“Yeah, I can hear you,” Baluch replied.

Mostafa Baluch. Source: Facebook

Five detectives from NSW Police made their way to the Gold Coast on Wednesday night for the court hearing.

They watched the proceedings from the back of the court.

NSW Police are expected to transport Baluch to Sydney.

Police had been searching for Baluch after he allegedly cut off his ankle monitor and disappeared on October 25.

It was only days after he had been granted bail by a NSW court.

Footage released by Queensland Police on Wednesday showed detectives quietly approach the shipping container before handcuffing a man alleged to be Baluch and rummaging through a bag that contained wads of cash.

Lawyer Nicholas Andrews. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Baluch, who owned Northbridge’s Cervo restaurant before it closed, is alleged to have been the financier behind a 900kg shipment of cocaine into Australia that had a street value of $270m.

As part of the search for Baluch, police raided two properties in Sydney’s west on Thursday.

Police seized more than $250,000 cash, about 200g of cocaine, 485g of an unknown substance, mobile phones and an electronic money counter as part of the raids in Potts Hill and Yagoona.

Baluch allegedly cut off an ankle monitor and disappeared on October 25, days after he was granted bail.

Follow @leae