麻豆传媒

Skip to main content

Canadian on U.S. 'Most Wanted' list extradited from Canada to face charges in Detroit

Khaophone Sychantha is seen in this image released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Khaophone Sychantha is seen in this image released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Share

A suspect who had been on an American "Most Wanted" list was extradited last week from Canada in order to face drug trafficking charges in the U.S.

The United States Attorney鈥檚 Office of the Eastern District of Michigan on Friday 41-year-old Khaophone Sychantha, a dual citizen of Laos and Canada, was first indicted by a grand jury in December 2005.

Sychantha was charged with conspiring to possess and intent to distribute methamphetamine, BZP, ecstasy and marijuana between 2003 and 2011. He was also charged with three counts of possession with the intent to distribute ecstasy and methamphetamine.

After these American indictments, Sychantha was arrested and charged in Canada on three additional criminal cases. Following Sychantha鈥檚 escape from house arrest in Canada, he was added to the U.S. Homeland Security Investigation鈥檚 (HSI) 鈥淭en Most Wanted List,鈥 with the organization offering a reward of US$25,000 for information leading to his arrest.

Sychanta was arrested in Montreal in 2017, following the assault of a police officer, and has remained in Canadian custody while appealing his extradition to the U.S.

Sychanta made his initial appearance in U.S. federal court in Detroit Thursday.

U.S. attorney Dawn N. Ison said in a press release that she 鈥渃ommends the work of the agents from HSI and Canadian law enforcement for pursuing this long-time fugitive and significant drug trafficker.鈥

鈥淭hanks to the coordinated efforts of our international partners, Sychantha will now face justice in the United States.鈥

HSI Detroit special agent Angie Salazar says these developments represent a move towards justice.

鈥淗SI will continue to work with our partners both in the United States and across the globe to hold criminals accountable,鈥 Salazar said in the press release.

鈥淢ore than a decade has passed since this investigation began. I am proud of the HSI special agents, prosecutors, and law enforcement who did not let the passage of time prevent them from bringing the defendant to justice.鈥

The allegations against Sychantha have not been proven in court.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

We've all had neighbours we didn't like, but two people from Sault Ste. Marie have been awarded more than half a million dollars for the 'extreme' behaviour of the people who lived next to them.

BREAKING

BREAKING

An 18-year-old woman who allegedly stole a Porsche and then ran over its owner in a caught-on-video incident in Mississauga earlier this month is now facing auto theft charges in Toronto.

Video of a B.C. man's surprise encounter with a black bear has gone viral online, generating much discussion about how to best respond when face-to-face with an aggressive animal.

Local Spotlight

Giant gourds took over a Manitoba community this weekend.

Fire has destroyed a barn and 17,000 plants at a family-owned business in Lower Coverdale, N.B.

Before influencers on social media, Canada鈥檚 Jeanne Beker was bringing the world of high fashion down to earth and as Calgary鈥檚 Glenbow Museum gets a major make-over, it will include a new exhibition showcasing the pop culture icon.

A sea lion swam free after a rescue team disentangled it near Vancouver Island earlier this week.

A Nova Scotian YouTuber has launched a mini-truck bookmobile.

Cole Haas is more than just an avid fan of the F.W. Johnson Wildcats football team. He's a fixture on the sidelines, a source of encouragement, and a beloved member of the team.

Getting a photograph of a rainbow? Common. Getting a photo of a lightning strike? Rare. Getting a photo of both at the same time? Extremely rare, but it happened to a Manitoba photographer this week.

An anonymous business owner paid off the mortgage for a New Brunswick not-for-profit.

They say a dog is a man鈥檚 best friend. In the case of Darren Cropper, from Bonfield, Ont., his three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear literally saved his life.

Stay Connected