Australia holds Chinese man over suspected North Korea tobacco smuggling - BBC News

The Chinese man faces US extradition for his alleged role in an illegal trade that enriched Pyongyang.

12 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, ReutersImage caption, The scheme is suspected to have helped fund North Korea's weapons programmeBy Hannah RitchieBBC News, SydneyA Chinese man is being held in Australia over his alleged role in a tobacco smuggling scheme that generated $700m (£570m) for North Korea.

Jin Guanghua now awaits extradition to the US, where he faces prosecution.

He is accused of supplying tobacco to Pyongyang for roughly a decade. It is unclear whether he contests the claim.

US authorities allege the tobacco trade allowed Kim Jong Un's regime to make and sell counterfeit cigarettes to help fund its weapons programme.

Australia's Attorney-General's Department confirmed that Mr Jin had been detained in Melbourne in March last year, and that his "extradition matter" was ongoing.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-68344790

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