A police taskforce to hunt down organized crime groups exploiting the National Disability Insurance Scheme will be established by the government in coming weeks, the NDIS Minister says.
Key points:
Australia’s criminal intelligence agency believes billions are being defrauded from the NDIS
Organized crime groups have allegedly infiltrated the disability scheme
A police taskforce will be established to expose the fraudsters
An investigation by Nine newspapers has alleged members of the Hamzy and Alameddine crime groups in Sydney and other organized criminal gangs have been rorting billions of dollars from the NDIS scheme.
The head of the Criminal Intelligence Commission, Michael Phelan, told Nine newspapers that criminals were systemically “ripping off our most vulnerable people.”
Mr Phelan said there was evidence of criminals creating fake clients, skimming money, exploiting and intimidating clients and using pharmacy employees as “spotters” to find new NDIS clients to target.
Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission boss Michael Phelan says organized crime groups have infiltrated the NDIS.(AAP: Mick Tsikas)
NDIS Minister Bill Shorten gave a scathing assessment, as he announced a multi-agency taskforce would be established to track down fraudsters.
“I think they’re literally gutless cowards,” Mr Shorten told Nine this morning.
Comanchero boss Mark Buddle is in Australian custody, after being deported by Turkish authorities.
Key points:
The Comanchero boss was arrested at Darwin Airport this morning after being deported to Australia
The AFP will allege he imported more than 160 kilograms of cocaine into Melbourne last year
He will appear in court today where police will apply for him to be extradited to Melbourne
The 37-year-old faced court in Darwin this morning, accused of importing more than 160 kilograms of cocaine into Melbourne in May 2021.
The judge granted a request for him to be extradited to Victoria.
The court heard Mr Buddle did not appear in person due to security concerns from police, and instead appeared via an audio link.
“Normally, of course, someone appearing in court would be either present in court or on the video from the prison, Chief Judge Elizabeth Morris told Mr Buddle.
“But the court’s received information that the police have some security concerns, and that’s why you’re on the telephone from the Palmerston watch house.”
Assistant Commissioner Nigel Ryan said the drugs had a street value of more than $40 million.
Mark Buddle was escorted on a charter flight to Darwin. (Supplied: AFP)
Commonwealth lawyer Naomi Low told the court police wanted until August 10 to extradite Mr Buddle to the Melbourne Magistrates Court, to make arrangements to mitigate security concerns.
“Mark Buddle is to be secured and kept in custody in NT Corrections until no later than the tenth of August, 2022, by which time he is to be transferred into the custody of [the AFP] … to then appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on or before the tenth of August 2022,” Chief Justice Morris said.
She told Mr Buddle he would be kept in prison until arrangements were made to transfer him to Melbourne in the custody of police.
Mr Buddle was deported to Turkey from Northern Cyprus last month, and taken into police custody in the capital, Ankara.
He had been living in the self-declared republic after being granted a residence permit in August 2021.
Mark Buddle became president of the Comanchero Outlaw Motorcycle Gang in 2010.(Dean Lewins, file photo: AAP)
Assistant Commissioner Ryan said the AFP had been working to “build a brief of evidence” against Mr Buddle since mid-2021.
“When it comes to this alleged offender, we have been patient and thorough, and we have done what the AFP does best – we have used our capability, intelligence and international networks to ensure we have a warrant and a finalized brief of evidence so the alleged offender can face the justice system,” he said.
“However, let me be clear: this alleged offender has been a target of the AFP-led Transnational Offshore Disruption Taskforce, known as Operation Gain, since 2021.”
Assistant Commissioner Ryan said today was the first time the existence of Operation Ironside South-Britannic had been made public.
“[The taskforce] targets Australia’s biggest organized crime threats offshore, disrupts their criminal activities and ultimately ensures these alleged criminals face prosecution.”
