Comanchero boss Mark Buddle has been detained in Turkey and could face extradition to Australia, local authorities have confirmed.
ABC News confirmed Mr Buddle, 44, was deported to Turkey from Northern Cyprus on Sunday, July 10, and taken into police custody in the capital, Ankara.
Mr Buddle had been living in the self-declared republic after being granted a residency permit in August 2021.
The area declared its independence in 1983 but is recognised by only one of the United Nations' 193 member states — Turkey.
In a statement from the republic's Ministry of Interior, officials said a decision was made to deport the bikie boss because he was "inconvenient" to public peace and security.
Northern Cyprus Interior Minister Ziya Öztürkler made the decision to deport Mr Buddle on Friday, July 8.
Mr Buddle was transferred to Ankara on Sunday, July 10, under the supervision of northern Cypriot police and handed over to Turkish authorities.
Officials from the Ministry of Interior said legal proceedings to return Mr Buddle to his home country of Australia were continuing.
Mark Buddle fled Australia shortly after the 2016 murder of security guard Gary Allibon in Sydney.
The 59-year-old was shot dead during a robbery on a cash-in-transit van on Sussex Street.
Authorities want to speak with Mr Buddle in relation to the CBD ambush.
Mr Buddle is believed to be a 'person of interest' in relation to the deadly shooting of Mejid Hamzy in 2019.
Bryce Williams is one of two men accused of killing the underworld boss shortly after he left his home at Condell Park.
Senior detectives say it marked a dramatic escalation in the city's ongoing gangland war which has claimed the lives of 14 people.
NSW Police Minister Paul Toole said the matter was being handled by Commonwealth authorities, but there was zero tolerance for anyone who broke the law.
"Nobody is above the law," he said.
"We have a very strong message here in NSW that if you do the wrong thing we will continue to track you down, we'll trace you and we'll bring you back into this country."
The Australian Federal Police are not commenting on the case.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil has been contacted for comment.
Mr Buddle became president of the Comanchero Outlaw Motorcycle Gang in 2010 when former leader Daux Hohepa Ngakuru left Australia.
He is understood to have been leading the Comanchero while living overseas.
Australia National University College of Law Professor Donald Rothwell said the federal government would need to make a formal extradition request to Turkish authorities if they sought Mr Buddle's extradition.
"There is an extradition treaty between Australia and Turkey which smoothes the way for these processes," Mr Rothwell said.
"Assuming Australia meets all the necessary requirements...the next issue is whether or not (Mr) Buddle would contest the extradition.
"If he does contest the matter, it will move through the Turkish courts and might string out for some period of time."
