Comanchero bikie boss Mark Buddle to stay in Barwon Prison

Comanchero boss Mark Buddle will be under tighter security, with prison staff to add safeguards to protect themselves and Australia’s highest profile prisoner.

Exclusive: Comanchero boss Mark Buddle will be subjected to regular cell searches behind bars, with prison staff to add safeguards to protect themselves and Australia’s highest profile prisoner.

Buddle was expected to be held in solitary confinement for up to 23 hours a day at Barwon Prison, a maximum security jail in Victoria.

Sources say that the prison will have to significantly increase security for Buddle, 37, because there were concerns about threats from other prisoners.

Prison authorities will have sophisticated intelligence on Buddle, along with other high-risk inmates, and he was expected to have regular cell raids to check for mobile phones or other contraband.

The protocols for Buddle will be regularly updated as guards were put on high alert.

Melbourne underworld figure Carl Williams was murdered inside a high security area of Barwon Prison in 2010.

His cellmate Matthew Johnson was sentenced to 32 years’ jail for beating him to death with a bicycle seat in an area that was monitored by closed circuit television cameras.

Mark Buddle fronted a Melbourne court this week. Artwork: Mollie McPherson/NCA NewsWire

Corrections Victoria refused to confirm details of where Buddle was taken, or of any other prisoner.

Other Comanchero bikies have been only allowed an hour a day out of their cell during their stints in Barwon Prison for their safety.

Secrecy has surrounded Buddle’s extradition from Turkey, with details only released after he landed in Darwin.

Comanchero bikie boss Mark Buddle pictured overseas with ex-wife Mel Ter Wisscha. Picture: Supplied

Buddle was transferred to Melbourne under the cover of darkness this week where he faced court on charges relating to the importation of 160kg of cocaine.

It is understood Buddle was first processed at the Melbourne Assessment Prison in the city’s central business district.

Buddle fronted the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday but was expected to be taken to the maximum security Barwon Prison, outside Geelong.

Mark Buddle arrived in Melbourne this week after being extradited from Turkey on a drug charge. Picture: Supplied.

Buddle’s high profile arrest comes after some significant breakthroughs for Australian police.

Chung Chak Lee, 66, who was accused of being the right-hand man of Asia’s El Chapo was extradited to Australia in June.

Lee is facing drug importation charges, which he intends to defend.

His alleged boss Chi Lop Tse, known as Asia’s El Chapo, has been arrested in Amsterdam where he is fighting extradition to Australia.

New laws introduced last year have given the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission sweeping new powers to crack down on organised crime, even when alleged criminals have fled overseas.

The SLAID law (Surveillance Legislation Amendment (Identify and Disrupt) Act) allows law enforcement to hack into alleged criminals’ computers, where they can change, add or remove material once they have received a warrant.

Police can also take over suspected criminals’ social media accounts, changing the password.

It is not suggested that police used this power in Buddle’s case, but police are restricted from revealing whether anyone has been subject to this type of warrant.

Buddle had been living overseas for six years before he was dragged back to Australia, but still managed to run his drug empire from Turkey, northern Cyprus and Dubai.

The Victorian Department of Justice and Community Safety said in a statement: “The Department of Justice and Community Safety does not comment on individuals or their placements in custody.”

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