Kidnap fears for vanished ‘kingpin’ Mostafa Baluch

Family of Mostafa Baluch fear he’s been kidnapped, despite police suspicions he left Sydney on a private jet after cutting off his ankle monitoring bracelet.

Mostafa Baluch.

The family of missing millionaire restaurateur Mostafa Baluch claims he has been kidnapped, despite police fears that he cut off his ankle monitoring bracelet and has fled Sydney on a private jet.

The alleged drug kingpin is now the subject of a massive manhunt after he skipped bail and was believed to have left the northern beaches.

Baluch, 33, whose restaurant Manly Pizza & Wine was placed in administration and liquidated earlier this year, is alleged to have been the financier behind a 900kg shipment of cocaine into Australia with a street value of $270m.

He had been in custody since June but was granted bail on Friday against the advice of police.

Authorities believe it is possible the restaurateur left Sydney on a private jet from Bankstown Airport after removing his ankle monitoring device on Monday night.

Arrest warrants have been issued for Mostafa Baluch for breaches of bail. Mostafa was last known to have been on Pittwater Road, Bayview, just before 10.30pm on Monday.

On Wednesday afternoon, police released CCTV images of Baluch five hours before he removed the tracking bracelet.

They also seized a Range Rover that they believe he may have been in about 2:30am on Tuesday.

“To cut a bracelet off your ankle which has been imposed by the court shows a very serious intent to flee,” Organised Crime Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Rob Critchlow said.

On Wednesday, Police Minister David Elliott blasted the magistrate who let Baluch walk out on bail, saying police involved in the case were devastated.

The seized Range Rover.

However, Baluch’s sister has told The Australian she believes her brother has been kidnapped.

Relatives say they are in shock, with his sister saying he “doesn’t have a cent to his name”.

“How do we know that he’s not kidnapped?” Wagma Baluch said on Wednesday.

“I just hope that he’s somewhere safe and I really hope that no one’s hurt him.

“My Mum is crying, she’s in a mess.”

Ms Baluch said it was ludicrous to suggest her brother escaped on a private jet. She said she saw him on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, and he was “kissing and cuddling” all of his nieces and nephews.

“He didn’t look mentally well. You could look at him and you could tell he wasn’t well.

“He wasn’t scared. He was very quiet, like normal. He’s not a talkative person. And he knew he had a court appearance,” she said.

Another close relative, who asked not to be named, said it was a “million-dollar question” where he was.

“We all want to know. We’re all a working family,” the relative said. “Everyone is grieving, reputation is on the line.

“It’s embarrassing.”

CCTV footage of Mostafa Baluch travelling eastbound in a black Range Rover with at least two other men on the M4 near Croydon about 2.30am on Tuesday.

The Australian can reveal the holding company behind Manly Pizza & Wine, Baluch Logistic ­Solutions Pty Ltd, was assigned a liquidator in May this year and the registration was cancelled on Wednesday last week, with just $1.63 in the bank, according to ASIC documents.

A large commercial property in Newport owned by his father, Aminullah, a retired doctor, and his siblings Waheed and Wagma was put up as part of $4m bail upon which Baluch was released. Police say they are in the process of seizing the property.

The property was purchased in 2003 for $3,775,000 and is where the family’s restaurant, Lucky & Pep’s, and a cafe owned by the family are situated. Company records show the businesses are owned by Baluch’s brother Waheed and his father.

The commercial property is also rented out by other businesses, including LJ Hooker Newport and a law firm.

Family members own multiple restaurants across Sydney.

There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by any other members of the family.