Alleged drug kingpin Guy Habkouk arrest at Sydney airport over alleged heroin import

The alleged mastermind behind one of Australia’s biggest heroin hauls has been taken into custody during a dramatic arrest at a busy airport.

Guy Habkouk, 35, was detained by Australian Federal Police at Sydney International Airport on Saturday morning, for orchestrating the alleged import of 350kg of heroin in December 2020.

The shipment was one of the largest in Australian history and the drugs have an estimated street value of more than $1m.

Guy Habkouk, 35, was taken into custody by police at Sydney’s international airport on Sunday

The Sydney man was living in Turkey before being picked up by local police in January.

Police will allege the Sydney man had extensive links to transnational organised crime groups, which helped facilitate this importation. 

At the time of the claimed heroin seizure authorities believe Mr Habkouk was living in Thailand.

He has been charged with importing a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs contrary to section 307.1 of the Criminal Code 1995, an offence which carries the maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

He will appear before the Parramatta Local Court on Sunday morning.

AFP Commander Transnational Operations Richard Chin said the man allegedly had ‘extensive links’ to transnational organised crime groups.

‘He played a significant orchestrating role in terms of this importation, which was a very large amount of heroin,’ Commander Chin alleged.

Police allege Mr Habkouk was the planner behind one an attempt to smuggle 350kg of heroin into Australian in 2020

The heroin seized by authorities in December 2020 had a then estimated street value of $1million

The drugs were allegedly concealed inside two construction mixers imported from Kuala Lumpur before being delivered to a business in Sydney’s north west.

Another man, understood to be the man’s brother, was arrested and faced court for the importation last September.