A suspected Canadian drug baron has been arrested in the Netherlands on an Interpol warrant, according to Dutch and Australian police.
The 57-year-old was detained Friday and is of “significant interest” to Australian and other law enforcement agencies, according to a statement Sunday from the Australian federal police.
It says he was targeted as part of an operation that dismantled a global crime syndicate in 2019 that was accused of trading large amounts of illegal drugs and laundering the profits. The Australian police plan to seek his extradition.
Dutch national police tweeted that he was arrested at the request of Australian authorities via Interpol. The international police agency did not comment on the arrest.
The suspect’s name was not released.
In a statement emailed to Global News, a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada said the agency is “aware of the arrest of a Canadian citizen in the Netherlands.”
“Consular services are being provided to the Canadian citizen,” the statement read. “Consular services are in contact with local authorities to gather additional information.”
Global Affairs Canada said no further information can be disclosed, citing the Privacy Act.
-With files from Global News