Two of the six Australians arrested in a Dubai as part of a global investigation into drug smuggling may be kept in the United Arab Emirates under sharia law.
Hakan Arif, a former Comanchero bikie known as ‘Mr Billionaire’ and ‘Little Hux’, and alleged co-conspirator Stephen Elmir, known as ‘Mr Worldwide’ and ‘Staypaid’, remain in jail cells almost three months after their arrest.
Four other men arrested with Arif and Elmir including Michael and Fadi Ibrahim, brothers of Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim, were extradited to Australia last month.
Fadi Ibrahim is charged with money laundering offences related to alleged tobacco smuggling.
Fadi Ibrahim was arrested in Dubai on money laundering charges and extradited last month
Michael Ibrahim is facing life in jail if convicted of his alleged role in a drug smuggling ring
Hakan Arif, a former Comanchero bikie, is still in a Dubai prison cell after his August 8 arrest
Two of the ‘Dubai Six’ arrested in August are still in custody in the UAE’s largest city (pictured)
The ‘Dubai Six’ were arrested on August 8 as part of an international investigation into drug and tobacco smuggling straddling three continents.
While the Ibrahim brothers, Mustapha Dib and Koder Jomaa were successfully extradited from the UAE, Australian Federal Police have reportedly run into difficulties bringing back Arif and Elmir.
Arif, named in Dubai court documents as boss of the billion-dollar drug ring, has taken residency in the UAE, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Elmir, who flew to Dubai in April after his brother-in-law Safwan Charbaji was shot dead, is also a temporary resident of the UAE.
Both men allegedly have substantial debts and as residents of the UAE are subject to sharia law which considers non-payment of money owed to be a criminal offence.
If they do not pay the money they owe, they are banned from leaving the country, a source told the Daily Telegraph.
Sydney’s Koder Jomaa (pictured) was one of six men arrested in raids in Dubai on August 8
John Ibrahim (pictured) has not been charged with any offence related to the August 8 raids
Fadi Ibrahim caught on surveillance camera as part of an international police operation
Even missing a credit card payment or bouncing a cheque can lead to a travel ban.
While the charges against the Ibrahim brothers, Dib and Jomaa have begun moving through NSW courts, Arif and Elmir are fighting their extradition.
Legal sources told the Telegraph it was possible the men could be arrested as part of an Interpol request, which the UAE could rule superseded its laws.
It was reported before any of the Dubai Six had been extradited that five of them planned to become Lebanese citizens in a bid to escape extradition. Some of the men could face life in jail in Australia.
There is no extradition treaty between Australia and Lebanon.
Sydney man Mustapha Dib has been extradited from Dubai after his arrest on August 8
Michael Ibrahim has been extradited from Dubai over his alleged role in a drug smuggling ring
John Ibrahim, whose home at Dover Heights in Sydney’s eastern suburbs was also raided on August 8, has not been charged with any offence.
Arif and Elmir are accused of being involved in a plan to smuggle 1.8 tonnes of MDMA, 136 kilograms of cocaine and 15 kilograms of ice into Australia.
The drugs, with a street value of $810 million, were seized in The Netherlands before the men were arrested in Dubai.
The Dubai Six allegedly used encrypted BlackBerry devices to plan their criminal activity with Arif using the monikers ‘Mr Billionaire’ and ‘Little Hux’ while Elmir was known as ‘Mr Worldwide’ and ‘Staypaid’.
Hakan Arif and Stephen Elmir are still in prison cells in the UAE’s largest city Dubai (pictured)
Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.