25 Aug 2011

Extradition to Australia being considered for people smuggler

3:48 pm on 25 August 2011

Police in Indonesia have arrested a people smuggler and are considering whether to extradite him to Australia to stand trial.

The head of the anti-people smuggling task force there says

Sayyeed Abbas Azad was detained early on Wednesday.

Senior Commissioner Budi Santoso says Australian Federal Police have told him Abbas organised a boat that arrived at Christmas Island two weeks ago with more than 100 asylum seekers on board.

The ABC reports Australia has wanted to extradite Abbas for well over a year.