Greek-Dutch row over extradition of drug suspect

A ROW has developed between the Dutch and Greek authorities over an extradition request for an Irishman who allegedly helped to smuggle cannabis valued at €50 million into Athens.

Tommy “The Zombie” Savage was arrested in Amsterdam in January on the foot of an extradition warrant claiming he had masterminded a drugs trafficking operation into Greece in 1997.

Mr Savage, aged 53, from Swords, Co Dublin, was held in custody for nearly a week.

He was released on condition that he did not leave the country and reported regularly to police. It emerged the passport of the Irishman, who has convictions in Ireland, had long expired. He had not renewed it while domiciled in Holland where he runs a budget hotel.

The delay in handling the case has angered the Dutch public prosecution service who are making a formal complaint to the Greek authorities accusing them of withholding essential information necessary to start extradition proceedings.

“We were requested as a matter of great urgency to take this man into custody because he was suspected of major drugs crimes; but since then we have heard virtually nothing; the Greek authorities were asked to furnish essential information and specific documentation was also requested but they made no effort to date to comply,” said Amsterdam Public prosecution service spokesman Robert Meulenbreuk yesterday. Perhaps they have nothing else on their minds but European football victory and getting the Olympic Games going”.

He added: “Mr Savage has a right to a fair extradition hearing, but it is impossible to prepare a case while the Greek authorities deprive us of information considered appropriate to the request for his handover”.

A formal “tough” complaint has now been prepared and the Dutch public prosecutor handling the case will personally deliver it to his Greek counterparts in the coming days.

A former INLA member, Mr Savage originally fled to the Netherlands in the mid-1990s with fellow Dublin criminals Mick Weldon and Robbie Murphy, following threats from the IRA.

He had served nine years in jail for armed robbery in the 1970s and 1980s.