On September 27, 2023, a 41-year-old Australian man, who was arrested in Mykonos in July 2021, following a “Red Notice” by Interpol, as a member of an international drug trafficking network involved in cases of cocaine importation, distribution, and money laundering, is appealing to not be extradited to the USA, as requested by the country.
Specifically, the 41-year-old was arrested by officers from the Drug Enforcement Division of the Greek Police and the American DEA at Mykonos Airport in order to be extradited to the USA, and he is currently held in Korydallos Prison.
In his statement he says he is an Australian citizen and is only involved in construction, online commerce, and cryptocurrency.
According to US authorities, he is alleged to have participated in a conspiracy from May 2019 to May 2021 for the money laundering of proceeds from drug trafficking in the Florida region and the distribution of large quantities of cocaine from Colombia, through California, to Australia.
The extradition request made by US authorities was accepted by both Greek courts and the Greek Minister of Justice.
The man has appealed to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) (interim measures procedure) to suspend his extradition until the Greek government seeks clarifications from the USA regarding arguments and objections he had raised himself.
The clarifications concern the penalties he would face in the USA if extradited, as a possible sentence is life imprisonment, but they also relate to the conditions of his detention in the USA.
His extradition was postponed by the ECHR, and clarifications were requested from the Greek government, which were subsequently answered.
Then, the Minister of Justice (March 11, 2023) issued a favourable opinion for his extradition.
Now, he has appealed to the Council of State and is requesting the annulment of the contentious ministerial decision allowing his extradition.
Among other arguments, he claims that the criminal procedure against him in the USA resulted from exceeding permissible undercover police activity for the disclosure of punishable acts, and that he was a victim of police entrapment, a claim that was never examined by the judicial authorities, violating his right to a fair trial.
Furthermore, he asserts that the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is violated, and the decision allowing his extradition lacks the required specific and reasoned justification. He also raises health issues, as he underwent pacemaker implantation while being held in Greece.
Source: AMNA
