Frenchman extradited to Dominican Republic in ‘Air Cocaine’ case

SANTO DOMINGO: Frenchman Christophe Naudin arrived early yesterday in the Dominican Republic after being extradited by Egypt over his alleged involvement in the escape of two pilots jailed in a drugs case dubbed ‘Air Cocaine.’

Naudin, a 53-year- old criminologist and aviation security expert who was arrested in Cairo on Feb 4, is wanted in the Caribbean nation on suspicion of helping pilots Pascal Fauret and Bruno Odos flee to France in October after they had been sentenced to 20 years in prison for drug trafficking.

The pair, who maintain their innocence, were arrested in March 2013 as they were about to depart from Punta Cana in a private jet found to be carrying 680 kilos of cocaine.

Convicted of drug trafficking in August, they were released pending appeal but barred from leaving the Caribbean nation.

They somehow managed to flee and return to France – an escape that Dominican prosecutors allege Naudin facilitated.

Prosecutor

Francisco Dominguez said Naudin would be charged with conspiracy and the trafficking of migrants.

Naudin arrived in Santo Domingo shortly after midnight, saidTessySanchez,aspokeswoman for the attorney general’s office.

Naudin will make an initial court appearance within 48 hours of arrival, the prosecutor told journalists.

Fauret and Odos fled back to France vowing to clear their names, but were rearrested in November near the French city of Lyon. — AFP