High-profile bikies in legal limbo after AN0M sting

Bikies and organised crime figures caught up in the global AN0M police sting could spend more than five years on remand before trial as key evidence is challenged in the courts.

Major players in the global AN0M police sting could spend more than five years on remand before trial as key evidence is challenged in the courts.

Dozens of accused bikies, drug traffickers and organised crime figures were swept up in Operation Ironside – dubbed the police “sting of the century” – having used the encrypted messaging app AN0M, which was covertly monitored by Australian Federal Police and the FBI.

Among those charged is senior Comanchero bikie Mark Buddle, who was brought back to Australia in August 2022 and has been on remand ever since.

Buddle is ­accused of ­importing cocaine worth $40m into Melbourne.

Senior Comanchero bikie Mark Buddle was brought back to Australia in August 2022.

The bikie gang’s Victorian sergeant-at-arms, Christian Taumoefolau, is another who will be watching court challenges closely.

He has been on drug trafficking charges since being arrested by Ironside investigators in June 2021.

Other Melbourne Comanchero members Luke Jolly-Bishop and Josh Brennan also await legal proceedings having spent more than two years on remand.

They are charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of a drug of dependence.

Comanchero Victorian sergeant-at-arms Christian Taumoefolau will be watching court challenges closely. Picture: Ian Currie

Men charged as part of a separate Melbourne arm of Ironside may also be in for the long haul.

They are accused of plotting to import vast quantities of cocaine from the US and India via a western suburbs automotive business.

That group includes alleged kingpin Danny Zayneh, fighter Omar Dib and tradie Robin Reffo.

In an affidavit, lawyers for Mr Zayneh, who was charged in June 2021, last year said he was unlikely to face trial until 2026 or 2027 due to ongoing admissibility challenges.

Robin Reffo was charged with importing meth.

Many have challenged the legality of the intercepted messages, and County Court judge Michael Cahill last year said he expected litigation to reach the High Court.

He said there was strong incentive to challenge the admissibility of evidence, ­despite the time and cost, due to the seriousness of the charges.

“I was told there are at least dozens of persons facing charges who are contesting the lawfulness of interception warrants and it is anticipated challenges to the admissibility of the AN0M communications will take many years to finalise,” the judge said.

“It is expected, because it is an issue of such significance, litigation will reach the High Court for final determination.”

In a separate judgment last month, County Court judge Andrew Fraatz said he had never dealt with such a complex drug case.

“In my long career I have acted for clients alleged to have committed serious drug offences, including the importation of significant illicit substances,” he said in a written ruling.

“The issues that arose in other matters I have acted in do not compare to the complexity of the issues raised in this Operation Ironside prosecution.”

The South Australian Supreme Court last year handed the AFP a significant win when it ruled intercepted messages were obtained ­legally and without the need for a warrant.

The finding was expected to have flow-on effects in similar challenges in ­other states.

In September, almost 40 Victorians fronted Melbourne Magistrates Court in September for a mass committal hearing at which the police case was tested for the first time.

Many had been in custody since June 2021 when the AN0M app was disabled and police across the world ­arrested hundreds of alleged drug traffickers.