Operation Merriden: Rhys Alwyn Ferszt and Benjamin Joseph Williams to be extradited to Queensland from the Northern Territory

A Top End-based bodybuilder accused of being the Australian leader of a Columbian drug cartel will be extradited to Queensland.

A Top End-based bodybuilder was one of two men extradited to Queensland courts in relation to a country wide drug bust, which took place last week.

Rhys Alwyn Ferszt, 33, appeared before the Darwin Local Court for the second time in a week charged with conspiracy to manufacture a commercial quality of controlled drugs.

Police allege Ferszt headed up a cocaine empire backed by a Colombian cartel, and stands accused of striking a deal with bikie gangs to transport hundreds of kilos of the substance across the country.

He was arrested by the Australian Federal Police in dramatic scenes on July 21 after leaving a gym, as part of Operation Merriden.

The former lifeguard, on leave from the Gold Coast City Council, faces a potential life sentence behind bars if he is convicted.

Bodybuilder Rhys Ferszt to be extradited to Queensland. Picture: Instagram

Meanwhile, Benjamin Joseph Williams, 30, also appeared in Darwin Local Court facing the same charge of conspiracy.

Defence lawyer Michael Drury earlier suggested to the court Williams would plead not guilty, claiming he was unaware of anything sinister going on when moving the goods.

Prosecuting solicitor Naomi Low, who successfully argued against either being granted bail on Monday, appeared in court again to request both be extradited to the Brisbane Magistrates Court for a trial beginning on Monday.

“The Queensland warrant is in relation to identical offending,” Ms Low said.

“They have been charged in Queensland on the same charges, and for that to happen they need to be extradited.”

Judge John Neil ruled that both Ferszt and Williams would be transferred to the Queensland courts to commence proceedings on Monday.

Both defendants will remain in custody at Holtze prison in Darwin until July 30, when they will be released into the custody of Queensland police.

Operation Merriden involved search warrants executed in New South Wales, Queensland and the NT resulting in nine arrests.

The operation also resulted in the discovery of an industrial-sized cocaine production laboratory in the regional Queensland town of Durong, believed to be able to render 700kg in pure cocaine.