Australian Federal Police (AFP) have extradited a Thai man to Melbourne, who are said to be a senior figure in an international organized crime syndicate accused of conspiring to smuggle illegal drugs into Australia.
Key points:
- AFP worked with Thai police to extradite the 66-year-old British Chinese man from Bangkok to Melbourne.
- They said he was a major criminal partner in a transnational drug cartel
- The man was allegedly involved in a conspiracy to smuggle five different amounts of methamphetamine
Working with the Thai royal police, AFP extradited the 66-year-old Bangkok man to Melbourne on Saturday.
AFP confirmed that the man was of Chinese and British nationality Chung Chak Lee.
The man is believed to have been involved in a conspiracy to traffic five different amounts of methamphetamine (or drug derivatives) for a total of 40 kg for several months in 2012.
They said he was a major criminal partner in a transnational drug cartel.
Thai authorities arrested the man at his Bangkok apartment in October 2020, executing an arrest warrant based on charges to be filed in Australia.
The dual nationality appeared before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Saturday afternoon on a conspiracy charge for trafficking a commercial quantity of a controlled drug whose maximum sentence is life imprisonment.
AFP said the extradition and detention were the result of “persistent work by investigators for several years”. (Australian Federal Police)
AFP Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett said her extradition was part of a lengthy investigation into a prolific transnational organized crime syndicate.
“The extradition of someone we allege is in the hierarchical order of this serious criminal union is an important milestone for AFP,” he said.
“It shows that AFP and its partners are one step ahead, working tirelessly to keep our community safe.”
AAP / ABC
Posted 9 hours 9 hours ago dig. June 12, 2022 at 1:27 am, updated 9 hours ago dig. June 12, 2022 at 1:33 p.m.