A MAN suspected of being one of the world's largest drug dealers is in custody in Hong Kong after being arrested at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Claude Duboc, who is alleged to have smuggled 60 tonnes of marijuana and hashish into the United States and Canada annually, is wanted to stand trial in Florida. He was picked up by Narcotics Bureau officers at the Mandarin Oriental's Man Wah Chinese Restaurant on Friday afternoon. US authorities allege Duboc is the financial officer of an organisation responsible for importing massive shipments of marijuana and hashish into the country. He is alleged to have made more than US$160 million (about HK$1.2 billion) a year and to have vast sums of money at his disposal in Hong Kong, Singapore, France and the US. Another man, believed to be from Luxembourg, was also arrested at the restaurant and has been interviewed by the Customs and Excise Department's Financial Investigation Group. Duboc, who was travelling under another name on a British passport but is believed to be a French-born American, was staying in the $9,000-a-night Ambassador Suite at the Grand Hyatt and had about $500,000 in cash on him when detained. A warrant for his arrest issued in Florida last month accuses him of conspiring and importing and distributing narcotics in the US between 1987 and 1994. It is understood further investigations into money laundering and tax evasion are taking place in the US in respect of the billions of dollars Duboc is accused of making from the transactions. Duboc made a brief appearance yesterday at Eastern Magistrates' Court. Senior Crown Counsel for the US Government, Roger McMeans, asked for proceedings to be adjourned until later this week as it was likely the alleged drug dealer would agree to leave Hong Kong without the need for a court hearing. ''Mr Duboc may be prepared to waive extradition and to return voluntarily [to the US],'' Mr McMeans said. Gerard McCoy, one of three lawyers hired to represent Duboc within a day of his arrest, said ''the case has developed rapidly since [Friday]'', but agreed to the adjournment. Mr McCoy asked for his client to be sent to the hospital at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre in Kowloon as he was ''unwell''. Magistrate Tong Man granted the request. Duboc, who is not wanted by Hong Kong police, is believed to have a problem with his hip. The case was adjourned until Wednesday to allow time for Duboc, who lives in Thailand, to decide whether to contest the extradition or return voluntarily.