Bali Nine: Australia’s infamous drug smugglers receive rockstar treatment upon return to Sydney

What do the King, Kim Kardashian and one of the nation’s most infamous drug smugglers have in common? They all received rock star treatment when they landed at Sydney Airport.

Bali Nine heroin trafficker Martin Stephens is helped into a car after arriving at Sydney airport. Picture: John Feder/The Australian

What do the King, Kim Kardashian and one of the nation’s most infamous drug smugglers have in common?

They all received rock star treatment when they landed on the tarmac of Sydney Airport.

Bali Nine heroin trafficker Martin Stephens touched down at the nation’s biggest airport on Friday, just days from being freed from a life sentence in Indonesia, and had an escort vehicle waiting for him just metres from his plane.

Bali Nine members Scott Rush, Matthew Norman, Si-Yi Chen, Martin Stephens, and Michael Czugaj. Picture: Supplied

With his chauffeur ready to go, and no need to go through the terminal like everyone else, Stephens received a level of treatment that has only been given a handful of times at Sydney to the most famous people on the planet.

But Stephens’ royal reception was just one in a series of moments where authorities appeared to go above and beyond to help the last remnants of the Bali Nine and keep their release from detention in Darwin a secret.

Sources close to the transfer of the five drug smugglers have told The Weekend Australian that per a secret agreement with the government all five are prohibited from speaking to media for fear of damaging relationships with the Indonesian government.

During four of the Bali smugglers’ Thursday night’s departure from the Howard Springs Detention Centre, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Australian Federal Police and Darwin Airport worked hand-in-hand to stymie journalists from attempting to interview and photograph the convicted as they flew out of Darwin.

The Australian was approached by a protective service officer, armed with an AR15-style short-barrelled rifle, in an apparent attempt to intimidate the masthead into not taking any photos or videos inside the terminal, with the officer warning that “further action” would be taken if his directions – which were not enforceable under law – weren’t followed.

Kim Kardashian arrives in Australia as she steps off the plane into a waiting car. Picture: Nicole Garmston

What followed was a carefully choreographed top-secret mission to sneak four of the Bali Five through a side entrance to get them inside Darwin airport undetected.

Just prior to boarding his flight, the officers were seen chatting with Czugaj. When the officer noticed the journalist, he warned Czugaj to put his medical mask on.

As the convicted drug smuggler walked towards the queue at gate 12 at Darwin airport he was closely followed by the two heavily armed officers as he video called a relative. What could be heard in the background coming from a nearby shop was the soundtrack of Star Wars’ The Imperial March.

It’s a staunch contrast to 19 years ago when the AFP tipped of their Indonesian counterparts the Czugaj and the eight other members of the Bali Nine were attempting to smuggle 8.7kg of heroin, worth around $4m, into Australia. Now, it appears the focus of the AFP has swiftly changed to providing a form of protection for convicted drug smugglers, and instead attempting to intimidate and prevent journalists covering a story of major public interest.

On Friday, Anthony Albanese distanced himself from the federal police’s involvement in assisting the AFP.

“That’s a rather strange question. The idea that I look after, as prime minister of Australia, look after operational details is – I’m not sure what point you’re making,” he said.