‘Abandoned’: Daniel Duggan family blast government over extradition

The family of a former US marine pilot and Australian citizen accused of illegally training Chinese pilots say they are ‘devastated’ by the ‘inhumane’ decision for him to be extradited to the United States.

Former US marine pilot Daniel Duggan with two of his six children. ‘My children are very, very sad’, said his wife, Saffrine. Picture: News Corp

The family of a former US marine pilot and Australian citizen accused of illegally training Chinese pilots claim they feel “abandoned” by the Albanese government after a decision was made for him to be extradited to the United States.

Daniel Duggan, a father of six and husband to Saffrine Duggan, was arrested in 2022 after being accused of breaching arms trafficking laws by instructing pilots, including Chinese citizens, on how to land atop an aircraft carrier in South Africa more than a decade ago.

US authorities allege the 55-year-old was paid more than $110,000 for his expertise but he had not sought the government’s permission to undertake the role. Mr Duggan has consistently denied the untested allegations, which also include conspiracy and money laundering.

A statement from the Duggan family released on Monday said they were “devastated” the government approved Mr Duggan’s extradition “without proper explanation”.

“Dan could be extradited as early as New Year’s Day. The family and Dan’s lawyers are now considering their legal options, including requesting specific reasons for the government’s decision,” the statement said.

The Duggan family were informed of the decision through a letter from the government on Friday, which said Mr Duggan could be handed over to US authorities at any point between December 30 and February 17.

Ms Duggan said she was “shocked and absolutely heartbroken by this callous and inhumane decision which has been delivered just before Christmas”.

“We feel abandoned by the Australian Government and deeply disappointed that they have completely failed in their duty to protect an Australian family. We are now considering our options,” she said.

“It is very difficult to explain to the children why this is happening to their father, especially now, at this time of year. We are all terrified that we may not see him for a very long time. My children are very, very sad.”

The family said they had made numerous appeals to the government over the past two years to refuse the extradition request.

In a short statement, Mr Dreyfus confirmed his decision, acknowledging the “public interest in the matter”.

After being in custody for 26 months, Mr Duggan will be extradited to the US. Picture: Supplied

However he did not comment on the operational matters, including the timing of the decision, in order to “ensure the safety of all persons involved and to uphold the integrity of the surrender process”.

“I confirm that on 19 December 2024 I determined under section 22 of the Extradition Act 1988 (Cth) that Daniel Duggan should be extradited to the United States to face prosecution for the offences of which he is accused,” he said.

“On 24 May 2024, Mr Duggan was found by a New South Wales Magistrate to be eligible for surrender to the United States.

“Mr 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.”

Mr Duggan has been in custody for 26 months while he fought extradition, 19 of which were spent in solitary confinement.

In February last year Ms Duggan lodged a human rights complaint with the United Nations, arguing his severe custodial conditions are causing him psychological distress and he has become a “shadow of himself”.

At the time, she said he was being held in a 2m x 4m cell at the maximum security Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre in Sydney’s western suburbs.

With NCA Newswire