THE former national president of the Comancheros outlaw motorcycle gang will be held in a Hunter jail cell after he was allegedly caught with more than $60,000 in cash at Newcastle Airport.
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Mark Douglas Buddle, 30, appeared in front of a Newcastle Local Court magistrate on Wednesday to faces charges of dealing with the proceeds of crime and taking more than $10,000 out of Australia without reporting it.
It came after his arrest at the Williamtown airport on Tuesday morning.
Buddle, partner Melanie Ter Wisscha and their four-year-old daughter were on a privately charted flight from Melbourne to Noumea.
About 9.20am, the plane landed at Newcastle Airport to be refuelled and for passengers to clear Customs.
Two Australian Border Force officers met the plane on the tarmac and collected passports and departure cards.
Police said all the the departure cards had been completed with the declaration that they were not taking more than $10,000 in Australian or foreign currency out of Australia.
It is alleged that during a search of the plane, ABF officers found a total of $60,140 on board and in the passenger’s luggage.
Port Stephens police were called and Buddle was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station where he refused to be interviewed.
He was charged and appeared in Raymond Terrace Local Court as well as Newcastle Local Court, both for mention, on Wednesday.
Newcastle magistrate Ian Cheetham adjourned the matter until Tuesday, August 4, to make a judgment on bail.
Buddle was remanded in custody until then.
