An accused drug lord who was found hiding in the back of a truck during a dramatic border arrest has returned to Sydney in shackles after his brief stint as a fugitive.
Mostafa Baluch's desperate bid for freedom ended when he was found hiding in a grey Mercedes in a shipping container at the Queensland/ NSW border on Wednesday morning.
Baluch - dubbed 'Australia's Pablo Escobar' - allegedly went on the run from police for 16 days after cutting off his ankle monitor while on bail and sparking 'one of the largest fugitive hunts in the country'.
Baluch finally left the Southport watchhouse around 1pm on Thursday under heavy police guard for his long-awaited return to NSW.
He scowled as he was escorted onto a waiting police plane, shoeless and wearing green prison-issue clothing.
The accused drug lord then landed in a small PolAir6 – a Cessna Grand Caravan - at Bankstown Airport on Thursday evening, with images from the runway showing him being led off the plane in shackles.
Baluch was believed to be attempting to flee Australia but has now arrived in Sydney to face a series of major drug charges
Baluch - dubbed 'Australia's Pablo Escobar' - allegedly went on the run from police for 16 days after cutting off his ankle monitor (pictured at Bankstown Airport on Thursday evening)
He was escorted to Coolangatta Airport by Tactical Police Officers and flown by – to Bankstown Airport
Baluch has sine been transferred to the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre where he will face further charges by Organised Crime Squad detectives.
He is expected to face Sydney's Central Local Court on Friday.
He is accused of attempting to import more than 900kg shipment of cocaine into Australia with a street value of $270million.
The alleged kingpin appeared sullen as he was driven from the Southport Watchhouse in handcuffs after being extradited from Queensland to NSW.
An officer holding a clear bag of his belongings revealed Baluch had packed a Colgate toothbrush, a Nivea moisturiser, deodorant and a few disposable razors.
A piece of Adidas clothing with the $59.99 tag still attached was also in the bag, as well as his drivers license and bizarrely, a pack of Maggi noodles.
A scrawled note on the side of the clear bag read: 'Watch and cash in safe'.
He is accused of attempting to import more than 900kg shipment of cocaine into Australia with a street value of $270million (pictured, disembarking a plane at Bankstown Airport)
An officer holding a clear bag of his belongings revealed Baluch had packed a Colgate toothbrush, a Nivea moisturiser, deodorant and a few disposable razors (pictured)
Baluch was loaded into PolAir6 – a Cessna Grand Caravan – for his flight to Bankstown Airport
Baluch's desperate dash for freedom ended when he was found hiding in a grey Mercedes concealed in a shipping container being transported on the back of a truck
He is expected to face Sydney's Central Local Court on Friday.
Before his arrest on Wednesday, he was last seen in Bayview on Sydney's northern beaches on October 25, days after being granted bail.
He was released on strict conditions, including $4 million surety on his waterfront home at Bayview.
Queensland officers searched dozens of trucks in the days leading up to the arrest, zeroing in on the transport after noticing the container wasn't properly secured.
As he is unvaccinated against Covid, Baluch remained in isolation for his extradition hearing on Thursday and listened to the proceedings by speakerphone.
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