An alleged international drug kingpin who is accused of trafficking mass quantities of methamphetamine into Australia has been extradited from Bangkok to Melbourne.
The Australian Federal Police with the assistance of the Royal Thai Police extradited the 66-year-old on Saturday, following a long-running investigation into a prolific transnational organised crime syndicate.
The Chinese-British duel national is accused of conspiring to smuggle a total 40kg of the drug (or derivatives of the drug) ice into Australia over a 12-month period in 2012.
The AFP alleges it was smuggled over in five separate quantities.
The alleged senior organised crime gang member appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Saturday on the charge of conspiracy to traffic a commercial quantity of a controlled drug, which carries a maximum penalty is life imprisonment.
Assistant Commissioner Krissy Barrett said the arrest demonstrates the AFP’s commitment to tracking down criminals who run their drug syndicate from abroad in the hope of avoiding Australian law enforcement.
Thai authorities arrested the man in his Bangkok apartment in October 2020, based on charges to be laid in Australia. Picture: AFP.
“The Australian Federal Police has an international network of partners committed to pursuing transnational organised crime offenders and bringing them to justice.
“If you commit an offence, there is nowhere to hide, and the AFP will track you down,” Assistant Commissioner Barrett said.
“The extradition of someone we allege to be high on the pecking order of this serious criminal syndicate is a significant milestone for the AFP.
“It shows that the AFP and its partners remain one step ahead in working tirelessly to keep our community safe.”
