Thailand to extradite British drug trafficking suspect to Australia

Australia does not have an extradition treaty with Thailand but the court said that as Australia was part of the British Commonwealth, and that as Thailand has an extradition treaty with Britain, the Australian request for Kinch could be recognized.

 The 50-year-old Briton was arrested in May last year after an extensive international investigation also involving Australian, German and Dutch police.

 Kinch is accused of being part of a scheme to import into Australia materials worth at least 50 million US dollars for making crystal methamphetamine.

 The suspect told the court the accusations were groundless and that he would rather chance his luck in a Thai prison than trust the "unfair and unjust Australian justice system." His lawyers said they would lodge an appeal within the required 15 days.