Ex-Marine Daniel Edmund Duggan faces charges of violating U.S. arms control laws
Sydney, Australia – Australia has approved the extradition of former U.S. Marine Daniel Edmund Duggan to the United States to face charges of illegally training Chinese military pilots. Duggan, who was arrested in Australia in October 2022 at the request of the U.S. government, is accused of breaching American arms control laws by offering his expertise to Chinese military personnel.
The allegations: Training Chinese pilots
According to U.S. authorities, Duggan is alleged to have trained Chinese military pilots between 2010 and 2012 at a test flight academy “based in South Africa, with a presence in the People’s Republic of China.” The accusations date back to after his departure from the U.S. Marines in 2002.
The U.S. government claims that Duggan’s actions violated arms control laws by providing military training to a foreign power without proper authorization.
Australian Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus defended the decision to extradite Duggan, stating that it was made after careful consideration of all available evidence.
“Duggan was given the opportunity to provide representations as to why he should not be surrendered to the United States. In arriving at my decision, I took into consideration all material in front of me,” Dreyfus said.
He added, “Duggan should be extradited to the United States to face prosecution for the offenses of which he is accused.”
Family devastated by timing
Duggan’s family expressed deep disappointment with the government’s decision, particularly given its timing just days before Christmas.
“We are shocked and absolutely heartbroken by this callous and inhumane decision which has been delivered just before Christmas with no explanation or justification from the government,” Duggan’s wife, Saffrine, said in a statement.
The family also noted that Duggan’s legal team is exploring potential appeals and requesting further clarification from the Australian government regarding the decision.
“We feel abandoned by the Australian government and deeply disappointed that they have completely failed in their duty to protect an Australian family,” Saffrine added.
Next steps and legal options
Duggan is expected to be extradited to the U.S. between December 30, 2024, and February 17, 2025, unless legal challenges delay the process. His family remains committed to fighting the decision, citing concerns about fairness and transparency in the extradition proceedings.
The case raises significant questions about international legal cooperation and the enforcement of arms control laws, particularly as they pertain to former military personnel operating in foreign jurisdictions.
This is a developing story, and the broader implications of the case continue to unfold on a global stage.