Channel Nine have revealed the network had no idea one of The Block’s biggest stars was in the car with accused drug-kingpin Mostafa Baluch when Baluch cut off his ankle bracelet and fled, sparking one of Australia’s biggest manhunts.
Omar Slaimankhel, who currently stars on home renovation reality series was allegedly driving in a car with Baluch in Sydney on the night of October 25 last year, according to The Daily Telegraph.
The two men, who are both Australian-Afghani, were heading along the city’s northern beaches when the accused crime boss facing life behind bars for allegedly importing $270million cocaine, removed his ankle monitoring tracker in a desperate bid to flee overseas.
He was found by police 16 days later, hidden in the boot of a Mercedes concealed inside a shipping container being towed by a truck on the NSW-Queensland border.
Mr Slaimankhel was never charged by police over the matter, with sources claiming the former NRL player turned tradie was just a ‘mate’ of Baluch’s.
Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Mr Slaimankhel was involved in any crime or had any idea of Baluch’s intention to escape Sydney.
A Nine Network spokesman said in regards to Mr Slaimankhel that they were unaware of the bizarre circumstances before filming began.
‘All contestants undergo rigorous background checks before appearing on the show and we have no knowledge of this alleged incident,’ the Nine spokesman said.
Former professional rugby player Omar Slaimankhel (left) and building maintenance man Osman (Oz) are contestants on The Block
Channel Nine have revealed the network had no idea one of The Block’s biggest stars was in the car when accused drug-kingpin Mostafa Baluch (pictured) when Baluch cut off his ankle bracelet and fled, sparking one of Australia’s biggest manhunts
Mr Slaimankhel was a professional NRL player who played five first grade games for the New Zealand Warriors in 2012.
He turned to work in the construction industry before he made his appearance on The Block this year.
Channel Nine revealed that Mr Slaimankhel would be a contestant on the series in late July when it released the full line-up for the competition.
Baluch was allegedly planning to escape Australia by setting sail from Far North Queensland to southeast Asia, before stepping on a jet to eastern Europe, police allege.
Police officers allegedly found Mr Baluch hidden in the boot of a Mercedes concealed inside a shipping container being towed by a truck early in November.
Dramatic bodycam footage showed the moment officers approached the container on the Gold Coast Highway at Bilinga, at the New South Wales border.
He accidentally gave himself away when an officer knocked on the side of the freight and he tapped back.
In video from his arrest, officers from Queensland’s Crime and Intelligence Command shouted ‘armed police! Armed police!’ as they open the door to the container.
A figure in a dark t-shirt is then seen being handcuffed beside a police vehicle.
‘Officers noticed some suspicious items with the container that wasn’t properly locked and other things that caught their attention,’ Organised Crime Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Rob Crichlow told reporters.
‘There was a knock on the side of the truck and he knocked back. He was a bit shocked and ultimately good police work secured his arrest.
‘We suspect that the person… thought it was a drop off point – that he was being signalled that it is safe.
‘Of course, he didn’t realise it was a constable.’
Baluch, who once owned Cervo restaurant in Northbridge, was swept up by police in June as part of the high profile AN0M raids.
Law enforcement designed an encrypted app and marketed it to alleged underworld figures so investigators could monitor their communications.
Detectives started investigating Baluch last year after receiving a tip about a person gambling a huge amount of money at Star Casino.
The betting was flagged as potential money laundering and kicked off an investigation that eventually became focused on drug trafficking.
NSW Police Minister David Elliott paid tribute to the constable who knocked on the truck.
‘I’m tracking down the constable that did the famous knock on the side of the truck,’ he said.
‘He’ll get a beer and a hug from me when the borders open and if that’s not an enticement for Queensland to open the borders, I don’t know what is.’
He was released from custody under strict conditions, including $4million surety on his waterfront home at Bayview which is now in the process of being seized by authorities.
Baluch had been charged with a string of drug offences related to a 900kg shipment of cocaine into Australia that had a street value of $270 million, but will also face charges over his breach of bail.