Evan Faulks and Ariane Munch, allegedly linked to Bra Boys, accused of involvement in $12.6m US-Australia drug ring
A pro surfer has been arrested on the Gold Coast and accused of directing a US-Australia meth and coke ring for infamous Sydney surf gang the Bra Boys, while his partner also faces charges.
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A pro surfer has been accused of directing a $12.6m US-Australia meth and cocaine importation ring as a “high ranking member” of infamous Sydney surf gang the Bra Boys.
Evan Faulks, 38, has also been charged with concealing almost $840,000 with a Tabcorp (TAB) betting account, among other allegations.
His partner Ariane Rose Munch, 37, has also been hit with a raft of charges and alleged by police to be a Bra Boys “associate”.
Munch is “unemployed” – but has been granted bail after agreeing to forfeit $1m as a security requirement, NSW Police states in court documents. Faulks has been refused bail.
The Bra Boys is a Maroubra beach gang featured in 2007 documentary Bra Boys: Blood Is Thicker than Water.
It hit headlines after underworld figure Anthony Hines was found dead in 2003 and Bra Boy Jai Abberton was charged with murder.
He was cleared on self-defence grounds, but brother and co-founder Koby Abberton was convicted of perverting the course of justice.
Faulks and Munch have been charged in the wake of an 18-month probe into the alleged attempted importation of methylamphetamine and cocaine into NSW.
In September, 2021, NSW Police State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearms Squad detectives, aided by Australian Border Force, launched Strike Force Madline.
It came after two “consignments” were allegedly intercepted by the US Drug Enforcement Agency and US Customs in America.
They contained 6kg of drugs concealed in machinery and a stone bench top, it’s alleged.
On Tuesday, Queensland Police arrested Faulks during a vehicle stop at Miami on the Gold Coast.
Police and strike force detectives also arrested Munch at the pair’s home on Marine Pde, Miami.
Officers raided the home and allegedly seized items “including documentation relevant to the investigation”.
Faulks and Munch were taken to Southport Magistrates Court, where NSW detectives were granted their extradition over the border.
The pair – also linked in documents to a Storey St, Maroubra home – faced Tweed Heads Local Court on Wednesday.
Faulks has been charged with two counts of attempting to import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, and one count each of knowingly directing the activities of a criminal group, knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime and intending to conceal, and dealing with property proceeds of crime.
It’s alleged on one occasion Faulks dealt with proceeds of crime of more than $839,000 “with the intention of concealing it through a Tabcorp (TAB) betting account”.
Munch has been charged with participating in a criminal group contributing to criminal activity, obtaining financial advantage by deception, dealing with property which is the proceeds of crime, wilfully making false declaration for material benefit, and knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime with an intent to conceal.
Munch is alleged to have participated in criminal acts with Faulks and another man, as well as defrauding the Commonwealth of $567,910.26 in undeclared income, among other accusations.
Faulks and Munch have not entered pleas.
Police allege in court documents that from 2014 Faulks has been a “high-ranking member of the Bra Boys criminal organisation”.
Faulks “has been and continues to direct members of the organisation in their criminal actions, including organising the import of prohibited drugs and distribution of prohibited drugs in Sydney”, the documents state.
In 2018, Faulks was featured in an article: 11 years since the Bra Boys documentary.
He was described as an “accomplished competitor” who “won numerous awards, but gave away regular competition to focus his energy on big wave surfing”.
“Faulks now spends much of his time in Bali and is still surfing some of the biggest waves on the planet,” the article reads.
In Red Bull’s documentary This and Nothing Else from 2016, shared across the internet, Faulks speaks about being a surfer, building contractor and father.
“Growing up here (Maroubra) was pretty tough, it’s not the richest of areas,” he said.
“I used to party a lot and all that crap that goes with it but she (daughter) just levelled me.
“Us as a community we’re heading down the wrong path”
On Thursday afternoon, three plain clothes NSW Police officers were seen speaking briefly to a woman at the pair’s beachfront Miami home.
The woman said she was not Munch but confirmed she did know her.
“I don’t know where she is,” she said.
Munch is due to face Parramatta Local Court on May 26. Faulks is due to face Downing Centre Local Court on April 5.
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