Posted on 03/06/2003 1:19:52 AM PST by kattracks
An Indian-born US citizen and two Pakistanis who were accused of trying to obtain Stinger missiles for the al-Qaeda network have been extradited to the United States.
The trio were escorted to a waiting US government plane at the Hong Kong International Airport from a detention centre early Wednesday under tight police security, the Chinese-language Sun daily said.
Syed Mustajab Shah, 54, Muhammed Abid Afridi, 29, both from Pakistan, and US citizen Ilyas Ali, 55, had agreed in January to be extradited to the US before their extradition hearing began.
No reason was given then for the trio abruptly deciding not to contest extradition from Hong Kong.
They were arrested by Hong Kong police on September 20 at a hotel here following a sting operation by US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents.
A justice department spokesman said, "we don't comment on operational matters," while the security bureau and police refused to confirm the report.
The US consulate too declined comment on the report.
The trio were allegedly engaged in discussions with undercover FBI agents to smuggle 600 kilograms (1,320 pounds) of heroin and five tonnes of hashish into the United States in exchange for four Stinger anti-aircraft missiles for the al-Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden.
But Ali, the alleged mastermind of the plot, claimed he was innocent, telling the South China Morning Post in an interview in January that he had "absolutely no links to any terror network."
It was the first terrorism-related case in Hong Kong since the September 11 attacks on the United States, and sparked concern that the territory could be used as a transshipment centre for arms smuggling.
In July last year, Hong Kong brought in anti-terrorism measures to fulfil its international obligations in combatting the financing of terrorism.
I like the cooperation from Hong Kong.
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