AN0M sting: Comancheros and others to stand trial over trafficking and more
Two Comanchero heavy weights are among a group of men allegedly caught in the biggest police sting in Australian history and set to stand trial after three years in limbo.
South East
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Major players from the Comanchero outlaw bikie gang have been ordered to stand trial alongside other figures.
In a committal hearing spanning weeks, 10 men fronted the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court after the biggest police sting against alleged organised crime in Australian history uncovered encrypted messages through platforms including AN0M, WhatsApp and Signal.
Victorian Comanchero's’ Sergeant-At-Arms Christian Taumoefolau and Muhammed Topal, brother of former Comanchero boss Hasan Topal were among the accused, as police allege several transcripts of communication regarding money, drugs and trafficking were sent between the group of men.
The global operation — codenamed Operation Ironside discovered the messages being sent from locations across Australia and even as far as Turkey.
Police allege the pinged locations put the accused men at various points where criminal activity has allegedly occurred and were able to identify the individuals through their generated usernames by tracking the phones to residential addresses across the state.
Evidence given to the court related largely to a “significant amount” of cocaine and methamphetamines, as well as numerous fake documents and cash.
The court heard Hasan Topal was communicating with Comanchero members via the AN0M app from Turkey in 2021, organising couriers and transport for drugs and cash across state lines.
Investigators combed through 25 million messages between the accused men, finding images alleged to depict cocaine and meth being weighed, as well as large amounts of cash.
Mr Taumoefolau was slapped with charges including criminal damage by fire, dealing with the proceeds of crime and trafficking a large commercial quantity of a drug of dependence (relating to both meth and cocaine).
He remains in custody.
Muhammad Topal also faced trafficking charges, as well as weapons possession and dealing with proceeds of crime, regarding a whopping $2.5 million in cash.
Patrick O’Kelly stood alongside the two Comanchero's, who police allege used the codename “Mr Doubtfire” in the AN0M messages and faced charges including trafficking a commercial quantity of drugs and dealing with proceeds of crime.
Joshua Brennan also appeared in the committal from custody, after he was arrested for trafficking a large commercial quantity of drugs, dealing with proceeds of crime and more.
Police also allege he was involved in the making of and use of false documents.
Comanchero associate and Hells Angel prospect Tevita Ofahengaue, George Afeaki and Abdullah Arslan also were among the men in the committal, all facing similar charges as well as being allegedly linked to $1.24m in cash.
These men, as well as Faigofie Tufuga, George Kamvissis and Soner Akkus were ordered to stand trial in the County Court on July 16, and all entered pleas of not guilty.
