Australia’s Attorney General Mark Dreyfus has approved the extradition of Daniel Duggan, a former U.S. Marine turned Australian citizen, to face charges in the United States. His extradition follows nearly two years of legal efforts to avoid surrender to U.S. authorities.
Duggan, 55, was arrested in October 2022 by Australian Federal Police in New South Wales. The charges against him stem from a 2017 U.S. grand jury indictment, which alleges that Duggan trained Chinese pilots to land on aircraft carriers between 2009 and 2012.
Prosecutors assert he worked for a Chinese-owned company while traveling between the U.S., China, Australia, and South Africa. The company reportedly paid him over $60,000 for his services.
While the U.S. claims the training violated its arms embargo on China, Duggan and his defense argue there is no evidence the trainees were military personnel. His lawyers also emphasize that Duggan renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2016, retroactively dated to 2012, and contend that the alleged actions are not considered crimes under Australian law.
In May 2023, a New South Wales magistrate ruled Duggan eligible for extradition. Attorney General Dreyfus confirmed the decision on December 23, stating that all relevant materials had been reviewed and Duggan had been given the opportunity to provide arguments against his surrender.
Duggan faces multiple charges, including violating the U.S. Arms Export Control Act, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 65 years.
He denies these charges, insisting he was only training civilian pilots in response to China’s expanding aviation industry. His defense team argues that the U.S. government was aware of his activities at the time and raised no objections.
Duggan’s wife, Saffrine Duggan, issued a statement describing the decision as “callous and inhumane,” especially given its timing just before Christmas. She expressed disappointment in the Australian government for failing to protect her husband, a naturalized citizen, and their family, which includes six children.
The family plans to request a detailed explanation of the decision and explore further legal options.
