The recent arrests of some of Australia’s top crime figures has left a potential power struggle at the top of the food chain that threatens to boil over into widespread violence.
Following the high-profile arrests of Michael and Fadi Ibrahim last month, Australia kingpin Vaso Ulic was arrested in Montenegro last week leaving a gaping hole at the top of the criminal pecking order.
Suggestions of unrest come after the AFP confirmed they will refrain from extraditing 58-year-old Ulic, despite the Kings Cross identity being a long term target for over 10 years.
Instead they will assist Montenegro authorities prosecuting him offshore for using their territory to coordinate mass shipments of drugs to Australia, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Australia kingpin Vaso Ulic (pictured) was arrested in Montenegro last week leaving a gaping hole at the top of the criminal pecking order
Michael Ibrahim (right) was arrested last month which has prompted suggestions of a void at the top of underbelly world which has led to widespread unrest
Police have also moved to help any members of the Eastern European community in Sydney, Melbourne and Wollongong and have hired the services of Macedonian and Serbian translators in their bid to reach out to anyone living in fear.
Montenegro officials contacted the AFP last week to warn them of their decision to move on Ulic and the repercussions it may have on Australia’s underbelly world.
Intelligence reports highlighting his extensive trafficking have led police to believe he is the ‘godfather’ responsible for a large share of illicit drugs and weapons smuggled into Australia each year.
His presence across Europe has become so iconic, Dutch and Spanish media have dubbed Ulic ‘the new Pablo Escobar’.
His arrest comes after just two MDMA busts over nine years ago but police were adamant the scale of his operation was larger.
‘We can categorically without any doubt say he is one of the kingpins if not the kingpin of bringing drugs to Australia’, AFP’s Organised Crime manager Commander Bruce Hill said.
Ulic’s arrest comes after last months AFP raids, which included the search of Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim’s home (pictured). No charges have been laid against John Ibrahim
Fadi Ibrahim is one of several high-profile arrests which have left Sydney’s underbelly world in turmoil as NSW police confirm a rise in violent incidents across the city
‘It’s not limited to ecstasy, he does cocaine, he does meth, it’s a compilation and then the money laundering aspect that goes with that so he’s very sophisticated high-level crime figure.’
His arrest comes after the AFP’s coordinated stings which have been branded the most significant in law enforcing history and in turn has ripped through the senior ranks of Australia’s crime identities.
‘I think they are all a bit off balance at the moment, in Sydney in particular, now that we have taken out those other guys, Ulic is another one, they are all looking around, the environment is very unsteady, created a hostile environment for them,’ a senior AFP organised crime officer revealed.
Ulic has strong links to a number of outlaw motorcycle gangs including the Comancheros and NSW Police have suggested his arrest has sparked a rise in violent incidents.
Police have revealed the violence is often internal, which suggests Ulic’s arrest has left an element of uncertainty among the gangs.
Montenegrin Ulic migrated to Sydney in 1979, but fled Australia in 2005 following $50million ecstasy bust.
An AFP investigator also confirmed he is linked to the assassination of a politician in his native Balkans.