Three men accused of attempting to get missiles for the al-Qaeda terror network may have dropped their extradition fight in the hope of striking a deal with the US, legal experts said last night.
Barrister Lawrence Lok SC said it was possible the defendants were hoping to receive a substantial reduction in sentencing.
Under the US indictment, Pakistanis Syed Saadat Ali Faraz, 54, Muhammed Abid Afridi, 29, and Indian-born US citizen Ilyas Ali, 55, are accused of actively engaging in discussions with Federal Bureau of Investigation undercover agents to import and distribute 600kg of heroin and five tonnes of hashish in exchange for four Stinger anti-aircraft missiles.
They allegedly told the FBI officers they intended to deliver the missile systems to al-Qaeda.
The three were arrested in Hong Kong in September.
The maximum sentence for the drug offences the three are facing is life imprisonment and a fine of up to US$4 million (HK$31.2 million). Supporting a terrorist organisation carries a 15-year term and a fine of US$250,000.
Another senior lawyer specialising in extradition said there were other advantages in surrendering voluntarily, such as a reduction in the time spent in custody.