| Submit your comments on this article |
| Terror Networks |
| Al-Qaeda missile swap suspects agree to extradiction |
| 2003-01-06 |
| Two Pakistanis and an Indian-born U.S. citizen told a court today that they would agree to be extradited to the United States on charges they plotted to swap drugs for anti-aircraft missiles to sell to the Al-Qaeda network. As the Hong Kong court convened after a delay of several hours, an interpreter spoke with the men in their native Urdu language and then informed the court of their intention to accept extradition. They were due to return to court later today to formally sign documents to that effect. The extradition must still be approved by Hong Kong's leader, Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa, a process that is likely to take several weeks. Defence lawyer Jonathan Acton-Bond declined comment on why his clients had decided not to fight extradition. He said he only discovered their intentions this morning. It's easy. U.S. jail vs Hong Kong jail. The men were caught in an FBI sting operation by undercover agents who said the three offered to provide hashish and heroin in exchange for four shoulder-fired Stinger missiles, which experts say would be capable of shooting down civilian jetliners flying at low altitudes. We need experts to tell us this? Little is known about the defendants: The indictment originally identified one as Syed Mustajab Shah, 54, of Peshawar, Pakistan. Through the interpreter, he said that was the name of his father, and that his real name is Syed Saadat Ali Faraz. The others are Muhammed Abid Afridi, 29, also of Peshawar, and naturalized U.S. citizen Ilyas Ali, 55, of Minneapolis, Minn. They have been jailed here since Hong Kong police arrested them on Sept. 20. The men are said to have met in September with undercover FBI agents in a Hong Kong hotel, where they allegedly agreed to sell five tonne of hashish and 560 kilograms of heroin, according to an indictment in the U.S. District Court in Southern California. Before the Hong Kong meeting, Ali allegedly met in April with undercover FBI agents in San Diego, Calif., to discuss drug deals, the indictment says. In Hong Kong, the defendants allegedly agreed to take Stinger missiles as payment for the drugs. They also allegedly told the FBI agents they would sell the missiles to al-Qaida. The men are charged with conspiracy to import heroin and hashish, conspiracy to distribute heroin and hashish and providing material support to a terrorist organization. The drug charges each carry up to life in prison and fines of $4 million US, while supporting terrorists carries up to 15 years and a fine of $250,000 US. Life plus 15 sounds good to me. Wonder if they are interested in making a deal? |
| Posted by:Steve |