A British Chinese man allegedly a member of a crime syndicate has been extradited from Thailand on charges of conspiracy to smuggle illegal drugs into Australia.
Australian federal police along with Thai royal police extradited the 66-year-old Bangkok man to Melbourne on Saturday.
The AFP will allege that the man was part of a conspiracy to traffic five different amounts of methamphetamine (or drug derivatives) for a total of 40 kg for several months in 2012.
He is said to be a major criminal partner in a transnational drug cartel.
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The man was arrested at his Bangkok apartment in October 2020 by Thai authorities on an arrest warrant based on charges against him in Australia.
The dual nationality has appeared before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on a conspiracy charge for trafficking a commercial quantity of a controlled drug whose maximum sentence is life imprisonment.
Camera Icon Australian Federal Police escort Chung Chak Lee to Melbourne Airport on Saturday 11 June. Credit: Australian Federal Police / Australian Federal Police
AFP Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett says her extradition is part of a lengthy investigation into a prolific transnational organized crime syndicate.
“The extradition of someone we claim is in the hierarchical order of this serious criminal union is an important milestone for AFP,” he said on Sunday.
“It shows that AFP and its partners are one step ahead, working tirelessly to keep our community safe.”