Dramatic footage captures moment alleged Aussie ‘crime boss’ taken down in Colombia
Police have revealed the scale of their investigation that led to the dramatic arrest of a man accused of running Aussie crime networks from Colombia.
A man alleged to have led significant criminal networks in Australia before fleeing to Colombia to avoid apprehension has been arrested after a four-year-long joint operation.
The Perth man, 36, was arrested a his property in Medellin, the second-largest city in Colombia, by officers from a joint task force including Australian Federal Police, Western Australia (WA) Police and members of the Colombian army.
It is alleged the man led significant criminal networks in WA before fleeing the country in 2019.
“The belief was the man would continue to manage criminal networks in WA from Colombia,” a WA Police spokeswoman said.
AFP officers stationed in Colombia began investigating the man’s activities and movements with the support of WA Police and the Office of the Colombian Attorney-General.
In July this year, detectives from WA Police and AFP Western Command travelled to Colombia to assist the Attorney-General’s office with the arrest of the man.
It culminated on July 24 with the execution of numerous search warrants in Perth and the Colombian cities of Medellin and Cartagena.
The 36-year-old Perth man was arrested at his Medellin premises, along with other members of his network, by the joint task force.
An alleged $1m worth of assets were seized, including $260,000 in various currencies, a four-storey house, an apartment, 10 cars, a business premises, a speedboat and motorcycle.
Three Colombian-registered companies were also seized, WA Police said.
The man will now face prosecution in Colombia for money laundering and proceeds of crime offences.
The AFP confirmed he has been charged with illicit enrichment by Colombian authorities.
Detective Superintendent John Hutchison said police would allege the man contributed to community harm on a “large scale” in Western Australia.
“He thought he could operate with impunity from outside Australia,” Superintendent Hutchinson said.
“You cannot run, and you cannot hide.
“Once a person is on our radar for committing serious and organised crimes in our jurisdiction, our focus will not shift until they are apprehended.
“This is a great result for the WA Police Force, and an example of the lengths we will go to bring offenders to justice in this state.”
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