By Fergus Hunter
Mostafa Baluch has been returned to custody in NSW on a police flight as investigators swooped on a trucking company allegedly linked to the accused drug kingpin’s failed bid to flee the country.
Mr Baluch, who skipped bail on October 25 and became the target of a nationwide manhunt, was discovered sitting in a Mercedes inside a shipping container on the back of a truck crossing from NSW into Queensland about 1am on Wednesday.
Mostafa Baluch arrives via police escort at Bankstown airport on Thursday night.Credit:Brook Mitchell
The driver of the truck, Jovanco “John” Kitanovski, 46, was charged with perverting the course of justice, accused of knowingly helping Mr Baluch flee NSW.
After his arrest by Queensland Police, Mr Baluch was flown out on Thursday on board a NSW Police Cessna. The plane touched down at Bankstown airport in the evening ahead of Mr Baluch being transported to the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre at Silverwater.
Police believe Mr Baluch’s plan was to travel from Queensland to Thailand by boat before making his way to Europe, potentially Serbia, to join underworld associates.
Following the arrest of Mr Baluch, investigators have also turned their attention to Kit Bros Warehousing and Transport, a western Sydney company linked to Mr Kitanovski.
Dozens of officers from NSW Police traffic and highway patrol and Transport for NSW arrived at the company’s Liverpool base on Thursday morning, inspecting vehicles and conducting compliance checks.
Detective Superintendent Rob Critchlow, organised crime squad commander, said police were going through Kit Bros “with a fine tooth comb”.
Mr Kitanovski, of Yowie Bay in southern Sydney, had been of interest to police for some time, Superintendent Critchlow said, amid scrutiny of logistics companies suspected of transporting illicit cargo for organised crime.
He alleged Mr Kitanovski is “involved in transportation but also he transports other commodities from time to time”.
Trucking company Kit Bros was raided by police on Thursday morning.
Analysis of company, property and court records reveals a network of colourful Sydney identities linked, directly or indirectly, to the Kitanovskis and their residential address in Yowie Bay.
Mr Kitanovski is listed on company records as the director and secretary of Kit Bros between 2000 and 2018. From August 2018, his wife Mary Kitanovski became the company’s sole director and secretary.
According to property records, the owner of the Kitanovskis’ home address is Jamelie Lahood, former madam of Camperdown brothel Stiletto, who became involved in a legal dispute over the Yowie Bay house with Fadi Ibrahim, the brother of Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim.
Fadi Ibrahim successfully had a caveat placed on the waterfront home, claiming Ms Lahood owed him $2.9 million. The caveat remains in place.
Mostafa Baluch, who had been on the run for more than two weeks, was arrested at the Queensland border. Credit:NSW Police
Mrs Kitanovski – who has rented the house since 2012 from her friend Ms Lahood, living there with her husband – then took action against Mr Ibrahim in the Supreme Court.
She is seeking to have the caveat removed so she can purchase the home from Ms Lahood, according to documents filed in the ongoing court proceedings.
Ms Lahood, who Mrs Kitanovski says was introduced to her by Mr Kitanovski in 2011, is the former fiancée of professional gambler Eddie Hayson, who co-owned Stiletto.
There is no suggestion Mrs Kitanovski, Ms Lahood, John Ibrahim, Fadi Ibrahim, or Mr Hayson are in any way involved in or were at any time aware of Mr Kitanovski’s alleged activities.
On its website, Kit Bros is described as having a reputation for safety and reliability, with expertise in container transport, warehousing and other logistical tasks.
“Each day our ability and professionalism is tested and each day we exceed the expectations of our clients,” the website says.
“Kit Bros transport’s experienced staff and fleet of trucks and reliable drivers, coupled with our close proximity to the wharfs and major freeways allows us to transport your goods safer and faster.”
Police have said the intensive and costly hunt for Mr Baluch, led by NSW organised crime detectives but drawing in other law enforcement agencies, has uncovered details of what is alleged to be a wider criminal network.
Mostafa Baluch leaving Queensland and extradited to NSW.Credit:NSW Police Media
“We have identified what we will allege is a drug trafficking syndicate which we are now dismantling as a result of this investigation,” Superintendent Critchlow said.
Mr Kitanovski was allowed to leave the scene of Mr Baluch’s arrest at 1am at Tweed Heads on Wednesday, but was later intercepted and arrested near Grafton.
He appeared in Grafton Local Court in the afternoon and was denied bail.
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2021-11-11 00:18:18Z
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