The War: Inside bond of Comanchero bikie chiefs Mark Buddle and Tarek Zahed

The bond between exiled Comanchero boss Mark Buddle and his sergeant-at-arms Tarek Zahed extended far beyond criminal activities — this is the photo that proves it. Read the latest instalment in our video documentary series The War.

The two men who control Australia’s most powerful criminal organisation share a remarkable bond.

When exiled Comanchero bikie boss Mark Buddle’s mother Les died in his hometown of Sydney in August 2018, he asked his most trusted ally, Tarek Zahed, to be a pallbearer.

It had been two years since Buddle, feeling the heat from a number of police inquiries into his activities – including being a person of interest in several murders – had left Australia and set up residence in Dubai.

With him being unwilling to return to his homeland for his mother’s funeral, photos obtained by The Daily Telegraph show he asked Zahed, in the gang’s famous black and yellow colours, to hold up the back right of her coffin.

It was not the first time Buddle had trusted Zahed with an important task for something close to his heart.

Tarek Zahed, wearing Comanchero colours (centre) carrying Mark Buddle's mother's coffin at her funeral. Picture: Supplied

When the Maroubra-born bikie left Sydney, he turned to the towering figure of Zahed to take over running his operations.

While Buddle is regarded by authorities as an Australian Priority Organisation Target (APOT), Zahed soon became so involved in the depths of the Comanchero that he was also dubbed a Regional Priority Organisation Target (RPOT).

NSW police had long had an eye on him, but being Buddle’s lieutenant in Australia led to added attention.

Police applied for a Serious Crime Prevention Order and it was granted by the NSW Supreme Court, meaning his movements, associations and even what phone he used could be monitored.

Fed up with the restrictions on his life, Zahed tried in 2021 – as NSW was in the middle of Covid lockdown – to fly overseas.

Tarek Zahed (left) and Mark Buddle shared a special bond that transcended their criminal activities.

Much to the ire of NSW police, who believed his claims that he was going to Lebanon to visit his sick relative were made up when he really wanted to go and meet with Buddle, it’s understood his application was approved.

Another source suggested Zahed would meet up with an exiled former Sydney criminal, Bilal Haouchar.

Haouchar has long been regarded as a close ally of the Comanchero, particularly fellow exile Buddle.

He is also a longtime associate of the ­Alameddines and so the union of the bikie gang and major crime family makes sense. 

Originally published as The War: Inside bond of Comanchero bikie chiefs Mark Buddle and Tarek Zahed