Arms dealers surrender to US
In a move that surprised even their own lawyer, the two Pakistanis and an Indian-born US citizen said they would not fight an extradition battle that had been expected to carry on for weeks if not months.
The men did not say why they decided willingly to be sent to California and face charges that could put them in prison for life. They will likely be flown to the United States within weeks Hong Kong chief executive Tung Chee-hwa must first sign off on their transfer.
The men were caught in an FBI sting operation by undercover agents who alleged the three had agreed to provide hashish by the ton and heroin by the kilo in exchange for four shoulder-fired Stinger missiles. Stingers can shoot down aircraft, including civilian jetliners, flying at low altitudes.
"I have no objection to being handed over as soon as possible," said defendant Syed Saadat Ali Faraz, 54, a self-described shopkeeper from Peshawar, Pakistan, who spoke to the court through an Urdu interpreter.
He and the other defendants, Muhammed Abid Afridi, 29, also of Peshawar, and naturalised US citizen Ilyas Ali, 55, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, have been in custody since their arrest on September 20.
Their lawyer, Jonathan Acton-Bond, declined comment when asked by reporters why his clients would not fight extradition. The men showed no emotion as they told magistrate William Ng they understood the consequences of their decision, then they signed papers saying they would surrender to the US, which has an extradition treaty with Hong Kong.
US Attorney General John Ashcroft has called the case a reminder "of the toxic combination of drugs and terrorism and the threats they can pose to our national security".
An indictment in the US District Court in San Diego alleges that US citizen Ali met undercover FBI agents there in April and discussed drug deals.
It says all three defendants met with agents in a Hong Kong hotel in September and agreed to take Stinger missiles as payment for five tons of hashish and 600 kilograms (1,300 pounds) of heroin. They allegedly said they would sell the missiles to al-Qaida, although the indictment does not say whether the men are members of the terror group.
"The evidence suggests they were in it for the money," Hong Kong government lawyer Wayne Walsh told reporters after the hearing. The men are charged with conspiracy to import and distribute heroin and hashish, and of providing material support to a terrorist organisation.
The drug charges each carry up to life in prison and fines of US$4 million, while supporting terrorists carries up to 15 years and a fine of US$250,000.
