Canadian Citizen Arrested on Australian Heroin Trafficking Charges

Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Amanda Vanstone, today announced the arrest of a Canadian citizen who is alleged to have been involved in a major heroin importation into Australia.

Tommy Kin Chuen HO, a Chinese born Canadian citizen, was arrested by officers of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police [RCMP] in Vancouver on 23 March 1999. The warrant for his arrest was issued as a result of a formal request for HO's extradition to Australia, which was made by Senator Vanstone.

HO is alleged by Australian Federal Police investigators to be a key player in the importation of 48 kilograms of heroin through Geraldton, WA in September 1994. This importation is the largest heroin seizure ever made in Western Australia.

Another alleged offender in that matter, Chuck Sun LAU, escaped from the Perth Central Law Court cells in March 1995. LAU was later arrested in Vancouver in 1997. LAU is currently in custody in Vancouver and has lodged an appeal against his extradition to Australia.

Prior to the warrant being executed HO had been arrested by members of the RCMP on Canadian charges after he allegedly took possession of 43 kilograms of heroin in Vancouver. He was later allowed bail in relation to that matter.

This latest arrest is the culmination of almost five years of intensive investigation by members of the AFP and RCMP.

"Although we are yet to work through the extradition process, this matter is a good illustration of the work done by the AFP in the international law enforcement community. The AFP enjoys a close working relationship with all of the major overseas law enforcement agencies and it is largely through these partnerships that we hope to curtail the influx of heroin into Australia," Senator Vanstone said.

Senator Vanstone also paid tribute to the work done by the RCMP. "I am advised that the officers of the Vancouver Drug Section have been an integral part of this investigation since the beginning and should be commended for their diligence and hard work."

Minister available through Kevin Donnellan 0419 400 078
Further information from the AFP available from Federal Agent Murray Smith on 08 9320 3483 or Federal Agent Mark Townsend on 08 9320 3496

WA MEDIA NOTE: Senator Vanstone will be attending the Commissioning of the ACV Roebuck Bay today at 9.30am and will be available for interview at that time. The commissioning takes place at Austral Ships, 100 Clarence Beach Rd, Henderson