Federal police have arrested a major organised crime target they allege is behind one of Australia's biggest heroin importations.
Guy Habkouk had been living and working under the radar overseas for the past three years, before being picked up by Turkish police.
He was flown back to Sydney on Saturday, where Australian Federal Police (AFP) were waiting for him.
The 35-year-old was the alleged mastermind behind the importation of almost 350 kilograms of heroin in December 2020, which remains one of the largest in Australian history.
That's equivalent to more than one million deals on the street.
AFP Commander Transnational Operations Richard Chin said Mr Habkouk allegedly has "extensive links" to international criminal syndicates.
"He played a significant orchestrating role in terms of this importation, which was a very large amount of heroin," Commander Chin said.
"I think that this arrest will have a significant impact across that organised crime community."
The drugs were allegedly hidden inside two construction mixers brought in from Kuala Lumpur before being delivered to a business in Sydney's north-west, monitored by authorities.
It's alleged officers watched Mr Habkouk's brother, Wade Habkouk, go to the business to inspect the shipment, carrying counter-surveillance devices to allegedly determine if authorities had discovered the drugs.
Wade Habkouk was arrested and charged over the shipment in 2021, and has pleaded not guilty.
But authorities believe Guy Habkouk, who was based in Thailand at the time, orchestrated the plot and have been waiting to arrest him ever since.
"The AFP's offshore disruption taskforce Operation Gain notified Turkish authorities that we suspected the man was in their jurisdiction," Commander Chin said.
Turkish authorities took him into custody in January and made the decision to deport him, escorting him on a flight back to Sydney on Saturday.
He's been charged with importing a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs, which carries a maximum penalty of life behind bars.
Police are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
