Extradition to the United Kingdom : "Another fugitive bites the dust"

PRETORIA - The South African Police Service will enforce an extradition order in relation to a United Kingdom national in Cape Town at 20h30 tonight.

The Fugitive Extradition Unit of Interpol NCB Pretoria within the South African Police Service will hand Darren Michael Youens Finch over to police officers sent by the British authorities at the Cape Town International Airport.

Finch is wanted in the UK for crimes relating to conspiracy to import drugs and money laundering. He was arrested in Hout Bay, Cape Town, on the evening of 09 July 2010 and later appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate's court where he was found to be eligible for extradition to his native land.

Mr Finch was subsequently detained at Pollsmoor Prison pending a decision by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development with regards to his extradition.

Now that the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development has issued an order in terms of Section 11 of the Extradition Act, Act No 67 of 1962, the fugitive will be surrendered to the person(s) mandated by the authorities of the United Kingdom to receive him.

Recently, during an Interpol seminar that was held in Johannesburg, the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, General Bheki Cele, highlighted the threats posed by alleged international fugitives. "This extradition is a clear indication of the sound partnership that the SAPS has with the other 187 member countries of Interpol in terms of combating trans-international crime-related matters", said Cele.

Statement issued by Colonel Tummi Shai, National Spokesperson for the Police, November 11 2010

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