Police launch manhunt for alleged cocaine importer and millionaire restaurateur Mostafa Baluch

A Sydney millionaire who allegedly financed the shipment of hundreds of kilos of cocaine into Australia is the subject of a manhunt days after he was released on bail.

A millionaire Sydney restaurateur charged with financing a major drug importation syndicate may have left NSW and be attempting to flee overseas after allegedly cutting off his ankle monitor while on bail.

Mostafa Baluch, 33, who owned Northbridge’s Cervo restaurant before it closed, is alleged to have been the financier ­behind a 900kg shipment of cocaine into Australia that had a street value of $270m.

He is now the subject of a “massive” manhunt after NSW Police said he had breached bail and was believed to have left the northern beaches.

Detective Superintendent Rob Critchlow said police had some suspicions as to where Mr Baluch could be and that they were working with local and interstate partners to find him.

Mr Baluch, who was charged with multiple offences in June, was granted bail and released from custody, subject to strict conditions, at Sydney Central Local Court last Thursday.

Mr Critchlow wouldn’t comment on the magistrate’s decision to grant him bail but said a significant amount of police work was now “under threat”.

“A lot of police resources from agencies all around the world (were used) to investigate this fellow earlier in the year and get a substantial amount of evidence for a very serious offence,” he said.

“We have a system that takes into account a whole number of things. All I can say is this man is a very dangerous offender.”

Early last year, NSW Police began investigating an alleged international organised crime syndicate involved in importing drugs across Australia, North America and South America.

A tip-off from NSW Police led to the US Navy seizing 870kg of cocaine off the Colombian coast and the US Coast Guard seizing a further 900kg in a second ship off Ecuador. Police allege the conspirators planned to supply 3000kg of ­cocaine – including the 1770kg was seized off South America – and Mr Baluch was the sole financier of the shipment seized off Ecuador.

Officers raided Mr Baluch’s Bayview home, seizing cash, encrypted phones, cocaine, steroids and jewellery. He was arrested in June and charged with a string of offences, including supplying a prohibited drug and dealing with the proceeds of crime.

Later that month, police laid further charges of conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of border-controlled drug.

He is described as being of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern appearance, about 180cm tall, of a muscular build, with black hair

“Anyone who sights Mostafa, or who has information about his whereabouts, is urged not to ­approach him and to call triple-0 immediately,” NSW Police said.

NCA Newswire