Why bikie boss Mark Buddle’s extradition to Australia would be one of the biggest days in crime history

Mark Buddle’s extradition to Australia would be the first high-profile case of its kind since that of accused parcel bomber Roberto De Heredia in 1998. Here’s what might happen.

As recently as a month ago, when the conversation turned to whether exiled bikie boss Mark Buddle would ever set foot in Australia again, most police said he would only ever do so “in handcuffs or a body bag”.

Of those two options, the latter seemed most likely – but now things may have changed.

Buddle has been dubbed Australia’s “least most wanted man” because despite talk of police wanting to speak in relation to the death of Gary Allibon and even by the Australian Federal Police for his alleged use of the AN0M app, it was widely thought there was not enough evidence to arrest him if he flew into Sydney Airport.

But if reports out of Turkey about a red notice being issued by Interpol for the Comanchero boss are right, and the AFP applies for his extradition back to Australia, it will instantly set in play a series of events rarely seen.

The last extradition to have such a high-profile was Roberto De Heredia – who was eventually acquitted of the 1998 Belrose Parcel Bombing – with a legal source involved in that return saying things may not be so simple with Buddle.

Robert de Heredia was extradited to Australia to face charges over the 1998 Belrose Parcel Bombing.

“When English police arrested De Heredia two senior NSW Police officers flew overseas and they engaged lawyers in that country to make an application to have him extradited back to Australia,” the source said.

“They would’ve needed to provide some evidence as to what they have, firstly to detain him, and then to bring him back to face charges here.

Comancheros Boss Mark Buddle when he lived in Australia. Picture: Jake Nowakowski.

“Sometimes people can fight it (the extradition), sometimes they can agree with it and fight it in Australia.

“With Buddle, the big question is the legitimacy of any warrants that they want him to come back for. Do they really have the evidence?

“Once back here you are detained and face bail court straight away, so he could be back out again quick.

“They normally send two officers but with Buddle they may send a whole security detail.

“The one thing you know for sure is that you won’t, or at least you shouldn’t, know when they’re going over for security reasons.”

Originally published as Why bikie boss Mark Buddle’s extradition to Australia would be one of the biggest days in crime history