Australia approves extradition of former US Marine accused of training Chinese military pilots

NEW CASTLE, Australia (AP) — Former U.S. Marine pilot Daniel Duggan has been extradited to the United States from Australia on suspicion of illegally training Chinese pilots.

Australia’s Attorney General Mark Dreyfus approved the extradition on Monday, ending the 55-year-old Boston-born man’s nearly two-year effort to avoid being deported to the United States.

Dugan served in the Marine Corps for 12 years before immigrating to Australia and renounced his U.S. citizenship. He is the father of six children.

Dreyfus confirmed in a statement on Monday that he had approved the extradition but did not say when Dugan would be transferred to the United States.

“Duggan was given the opportunity to make his case as to why he should not be turned over to the United States. In making my decision, I considered all the material before me,” Dreyfus said in the statement.

In May this year, a Sydney judge ruled that Dugan could be extradited to the United States. Appealing to the Attorney General was Dugan’s last hope of staying in Australia.

A 2016 indictment unsealed in late 2022 in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., alleges that Dugan conspired with others to provide training for Chinese military pilots in 2010 and 2012 and possibly at other times without applying for appropriate licenses.

Prosecutors allege he received payments totaling about 88,000 Australian dollars ($61,000) and international travel expenses from another co-conspirator, sometimes referred to as “personal development training.”

If convicted, Dugan faces up to 60 years in prison. He denies the accusations.

“We feel abandoned by the Australian government and deeply disappointed that they have completely failed in their duty to protect Australian families,” his wife Saffrine Duggan said in a statement on Monday. “We are now We are considering our options.”