Court ‘wrong to free drug fugitive’ Mostafa Baluch

The NSW Police Commissioner has criticised a magistrate who released alleged drug kingpin Mostafa Baluch.

Mostafa Baluch.

The NSW Police Commissioner has criticised a magistrate who released alleged drug kingpin Mostafa Baluch, saying it could take years and millions of dollars to track him down.

Commissioner Mick Fuller on Thursday said magistrate ­Michael Crompton “clearly got it wrong” when he granted bail to the millionaire restaurateur.

Mr Baluch – who owned the Cervo restaurant in Northbridge, Sydney – is alleged to have been the financier behind a 900kg shipment of cocaine into Australia that had a street value of $270m.

The 33-year-old was released from prison last Friday and spent three nights with family and friends before fleeing.

On Thursday detectives put to rest a theory he may have fled on a private jet departing Bankstown Airport.

Instead, they believe he may be travelling towards Victoria, with police officers near the border on “high alert”.

It comes as police seized a Queensland-registered luxury Range Rover on Wednesday afternoon which they believe may have been used in his ­escape.

The Queensland registered Range Rover which police believe Baluch was hiding in the back seat after he removed his GPS monitoring device.

“We have seized that black Range Rover for examination and we’ll look at the GPS and other data and other cameras around our state,” Mr Fuller said.

A former business contact of Mr Baluch, who asked not to be named, told The Australian he was “shocked” after he was told of the news.

The man, who had dealings with Mr Baluch in one of his hospitality businesses in 2012, said he was extremely surprised to learn his former colleague was in so much trouble with police.

“He was making pizzas when I knew him,” the man said.

“He seemed to know a lot about running pizza shops. I got the impression that he was a good businessman.

“He was savvy about the value of the fast-food delivery business model.

“He was just a young and ­experienced guy who went to the gym and then came into work.”

The $4 million commercial property in Newport, purchased in 2003, which police hope to seize following Mostafa Baluch's breach of bail. The property was purchased by his father Aminullah. Credit: Google Maps.

A source also told The Australian the family was “very wealthy” in Afghanistan and owned a lot of property over there.

Mr Baluch’s bail conditions stated he must live at his parents’ Bayview home, report to Mona Vale police station daily, and refrain from entering any ­licensed premises, except restaurants.

He is also banned from ­alcohol and drugs, and is required to use one mobile phone which is not permitted to have any ­encrypted messaging applications.

Police are now attempting to seizing a large commercial property in Newport owned by his ­father, who paid $3,775,000 for it in 2003, which was put up as part of his $4m bail.