Former NRL cheerleader Mel Ter Wisscha got involved in her ex-partner, Comanchero manager Mark Buddle’s criminal life. Her journey parallels Buddle’s dramatic collapse as international police closed in on his $100 million underworld empire, from living in luxury in Dubai to being detained in Turkey.
Preliminary Attention Before the Storm
Mel Ter Wisscha, then known as Melanie Terwisscha, was a prominent figure in Sydney’s sports and entertainment scene before her name was connected to one of Australia’s most notorious fugitives.
When she won Big League Cheer Girl of the Year in 2005 while supporting the Wests Tigers in the NRL, she made headlines for the first time. She attended red carpet events and celebrity launches while working as a promotional model and waitress at Hooters in addition to her cheerleading career. She can be seen posing with celebrities like Chris Hemsworth and Kieren Perkins in old photos.
With social media posts full of beaches, bikinis, and nightlife, she became a local favorite due to her vivacious personality and glamour-girl appeal. But as she entered a world ruled by fear, money, and power, this picture of sunshine and sparkle would eventually disappear.
From Maroubra to “Commander of the World,” Mark Buddle’s Ascent
Mark Buddle, her partner, was raised in public housing in Maroubra. He became a member of motorcycle gangs after being hardened by his surroundings. He first joined the Rebels MC before “patching over” to the Comancheros, where his ambition immediately distinguished him.
Buddle took over as national president after Mahmoud “Mick” Hawi was imprisoned following the deadly 2009 Sydney Airport altercation between the Hells Angels and Comancheros.
He turned the gang into a corporate-style crime syndicate with a global presence starting in 2009. Buddle insisted that no new chapters could be formed without his consent, calling himself the “Commander of the World” in internal club communications from 2017. The title stuck among bikers, half in awe and half in derision, as the Comancheros spread their influence throughout South-East Asia, the Middle East, and New Zealand.
The Connection Between Gary Allibon’s Murder and
The first significant incident that cast a shadow over Buddle’s reputation occurred in June 2010, when 59-year-old armored van guard Gary Allibon was shot and killed on Sydney’s Sussex Street as he turned himself in during a cash-in-transit heist. According to witnesses, Allibon raised his hands prior to being shot in the back.
Buddle was never charged, despite police believing for a long time that he could identify those involved. “They killed Gary even though he did everything right,” Allibon’s widow, Monica, later stated. Who fired the shot is known to someone out there. Although the case is still open, Buddle was plagued by its shadow for many years.
The Cash-Flight Scandal and the Nightclub Brawl
When three men were rendered unconscious in a nightclub brawl in 2011, Buddle made headlines once more. He was easily identifiable in CCTV footage because he was shirtless and had his last name permanently inked across his chest. He was released on parole after serving time.
Buddle and partner Mel Ter Wisscha took a chartered flight from Essendon Airport to Noumea just five days after Buddle finished his parole. Customs officers found $60,000 in cash concealed on board. Prosecutors labeled it undeclared funds, but he insisted it was for a vacation. Mel accompanied Buddle as he left court after being found guilty and fined. Before he left Australia, it was his last run-in with the law.
Exile Life-Dubai’s Sparkle and International Connections
Buddle left Australia permanently on February 1, 2016, moving to Dubai with Mel and their two kids. With its five-star resorts, sports cars, and waterfront apartments, the city became their base of influence and luxury.
Hakan Ayik and Duax Ngakuru, two international fugitives who were once classmates at James Cook Boys Technology High School in Kogarah, were allied with Buddle. Together, they grew the Comanchero network into an international drug trafficking enterprise that covered Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
But then there was trouble. In 2021, a video of Buddle fighting tourists by a pool at a resort in Dubai went viral, drawing unwanted attention from the authorities. He escaped via Greece, Iraq, Lebanon, and Turkey before arriving in Northern Cyprus, where he was given temporary residency by politicians until August 2022 on the grounds of his “high income.” Later, as his criminal reputation spread around the world, the move turned into a diplomatic embarrassment.
The $40 Million Cocaine Seizure and Operation Ironside
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) had been surreptitiously tracking down Buddle’s network while he was enjoying his Mediterranean retreat. They kept an eye on the encrypted platform known as the AN0M app, which was disseminated by an FBI informant, through Operation Ironside.
Investigators seized 160 kilograms of cocaine worth $40 million that had been smuggled in air-filter units from Hong Kong to Melbourne in May 2021.
Five men were taken into custody by AFP officers in Taylors Hill, Keilor East, St Kilda East, and Leichhardt between June 4 and June 6, 2021. They claimed that Buddle organized the shipment from afar. One of the most effective international police operations of the decade, the sting rocked organized crime syndicates all over the world.
Mel’s family is raided by Strike Force Gildi
The family-owned business Flemington Unloading Services and residences in Baulkham Hills and Boat Harbour were among the properties raided by NSW Police and AFP officers under Strike Force Gildi on September 8, 2021.
Cash, documents, handcuffs, electronics, and a gold ring bearing the 1% symbol—a distinguishing feature of outlaw motorcycles—were all found by investigators.
Grant Taylor, the detective superintendent, told reporters:
- “We will pursue him in every manner we can, including financially and criminally.”
The raids demonstrated the extent to which the authorities were willing to go in order to break up Buddle’s network, even though Mel’s family members were not charged.
Divided Lives and Separation
Mel and Buddle had split up by the middle of 2021. While he stayed in Northern Cyprus, she moved to Bitez, a wealthy coastal community close to Bodrum.
She told a reporter, “I haven’t seen Mark in a year.” “He is my children’s father. I don’t see him, but they do.
After years of upheaval, friends said she was desperate for normalcy, but her name and her connection to Australia’s most wanted man guaranteed that the calm would only last a short while.
Northern Cyprus Arrest and Deportation Scandal
Buddle was arrested in Northern Cyprus on July 10, 2022, following a clandestine operation by Turkish police and Interpol agents. On July 24, 2022, he was deported to Ankara since only Turkey recognizes the breakaway region.
International confusion resulted from the fact that Australian authorities did not yet have an active arrest warrant. Formal charges were swiftly filed by the AFP, and Interpol issued a red notice for his arrest a few days later.
The Arrest and 38-Day Detention of Mel Ter Wisscha
Mel Ter Wisscha was arrested by police on July 22, 2022, just two weeks after she left her resort in Bodrum. She was taken away for visa irregularities after fifteen officers surrounded her taxi and examined her passport.
She was placed in an immigration detention facility in southwest Turkey after being classified as a “foreigner posing a risk to public order and security.” Up to 88 people, including women and children, could fit in the facility. Mel, who spoke only English, was in a small cell with another prisoner.
While taking care of Mel’s kids in Dubai, her mother Donna said:
- It’s a waiting game, but she’s getting good treatment. All we want is for her to return home.
Although contact was confirmed, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) stated that staff members were not yet permitted to visit.
Mel posted on the internet from her cell:
- “Try to remain optimistic; better times are on the horizon.” Despite my appearance, I’m not living my best life. Social media is what this is.
Operation Gain-The Worldwide Strike
Buddle was designated a Priority Organization Target by the AFP’s Operation Gain, which was a component of its Transnational Offshore Disruption Taskforce. Dismantling offshore criminal leaders and their financial networks was the main goal of the mission.
The discovery, according to AFP Assistant Commissioner Nigel Ryan, is evidence that “no fugitive can hide behind wealth or distance – we will reach them.”
Return to Australia and Court Hearing in Darwin
Buddle was escorted by Turkish authorities to Darwin on August 3, 2022, where he was arrested by AFP officers at the airport.
Chief Judge Elizabeth Morris authorized his extradition to Victoria after he appeared before Darwin Local Court. Buddle, who is accused of importing and conspiring to import a commercial amount of cocaine, participated in the hearing via telephone from Palmerston Police Station.
The maximum penalty for each offense is life in prison.
His transfer to Victoria was delayed until August 10, 2022, due to security concerns. The arrest, according to Nigel Ryan, was “a significant blow to transnational organized crime” and a warning to those who might be hiding overseas.
The Release and Re-Emergence of Mel Ter Wisscha
Mel was released in late August 2022 after being detained for 38 days. In November, she reappeared on social media with the caption, “Been locked up,” in videos of herself and her close friend Leah Simone laughing and dancing in Greece. The posts were promptly removed.
Mel subsequently went back to Dubai, where she has stayed out of the public eye, concentrating on her kids and leading a more sedate life free from drama. She is “wiser, bruised but strong,” according to her friends.
Buddle’s Court Cases and Life in Prison
Back in Victoria, Buddle used a video link to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court. He allegedly used encrypted communications on the AN0M platform to operate a cocaine network between Hong Kong and Turkey, according to the prosecution.
He is still being held apart from other motorcycle riders on remand as a high-security prisoner. According to reports, investigators are pursuing cryptocurrency accounts and Turkish business holdings linked to him. The ongoing forensic financial tracing may result in additional charges.
The Look for Undiscovered Millions
His allies started searching Europe and the Middle East for Buddle’s secret wealth after he was apprehended.
He reportedly owns a $1.5 million penthouse in Istanbul’s Sapphire Tower, one of the tallest skyscrapers in Turkey, as well as opulent homes in Bodrum and stock in Northern Cyprus travel and fuel businesses.
According to reports, associates made a joke about having “lost the key” to his penthouse in Istanbul, which fueled rumors of internal asset disputes. Despite the fact that many things are still missing, law enforcement believes his worldwide holdings may surpass $100 million.
The Power Shift in Comanchero
In Turkey, Duax Ngakuru and Hakan Ayik took over as leaders after Buddle was imprisoned. Ngakuru, who was once seen on a yacht flying the Turkish flag, is still friends with Carolina Gonzalez, the widow of Comanchero leader Mick Hawi, who was killed.
In 2022, Allan Meehan, a former Liverpool Rebel, was elected national president of Australia. “You can’t see the eyes of the demon until he comes a callingin’,” was the caption of his initial Instagram post.
Later, with the caption, “Can’t keep a good man down,” he shared a photo of Buddle in custody.
The ambush on brothers Tarek and Omar Zahed in Auburn in May 2022 prompted the change in leadership. Tarek was shot ten times and lost his sight; Omar was killed. “Bad times don’t last, but bad guys do,” Meehan wrote later.
Myths in the Media and Public Views
Buddle, a criminal mastermind who lived in luxury overseas, became the focus of media attention and was dubbed “Australia’s Dr Evil.”
Insiders, however, perceive a more careless individual whose ego frequently destroyed his empire. Buddle’s public persona ran counter to his desire for privacy, as evidenced by his viral fights and chest tattoos.
Just months before being arrested, Mel even shared a meme that said, “A private life is a happy life”—a chilling mirror of their public demise.
READ MORE : Racy Photos and a Secret Life – The Truth About Mark Buddle’s Ex
Mel Ter Wisscha’s Current Position
Mel Ter Wisscha is currently raising her kids in a quiet life away from the spotlight in Europe and Dubai. According to those close to her, she stays away from the biker community completely and is concentrating on reestablishing stability.
Her journey from NRL cheerleader to Turkish prisoner serves as a warning about the costs of notoriety, allegiance, and affiliation.
As the once-feared Comanchero empire crumbles and fades under pressure from around the world, Mark Buddle is still imprisoned in a Victorian jail on charges that could result in his life sentence.
READ MORE : Jon Adgemis’ Lavish Lifestyle and $1.8b Hospitality Downfall
Leave a Reply