Bikie boss Mark Buddle deported to Turkey

Comanchero bikie boss Mark Buddle has been deported from Northern Cyprus to Turkey, where he is expected to be handed over to Australian officials.

Mark Buddle.

Comanchero bikie boss Mark Buddle has been deported from Northern Cyprus to Turkey, where he is expected to be handed over to Australian officials.

Officials in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus said ­Buddle received a residency permit last August thanks to his “high income”. Police then concluded his presence was “inconvenient in terms of public peace and security”, The Daily Telegraph reported. Australian officials are now expected to attempt to extradite Buddle to Australia.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia has an extradition treaty with Turkey but Buddle could fight any move to return him.

If he is returned to Australia, it is expected he would be questioned over a number of crimes, including murder and drug ­importation.

The 44-year-old was transferred to the Turkish capital, ­Ankara, on Sunday “under the supervision of two police officers”, The Daily Telegraph reported Cypriot officials as saying.

Security officials in Turkey declined to comment.

Police said despite Buddle being in custody, the situation was far from resolved. “I think he went there (Turkey) the first day he was arrested,” one source told the Telegraph. “At the end of the day, it’s Turkey … it’s not Australia, it’s not America. You can do a lot of things with money over there.”

It is believed Australian authorities are already in Turkey after being told several days ago of his arrest, but the Australian Federal Police, which has officers in Lebanon, refused to comment.

Buddle left Australia in 2016, when he was wanted for questioning over the murder of a security guard.