Police goofed up on Atala extradition

PANJIM, FEB 16
Israeli drug dealer Yaniv Benaim’s (Atala) extradition process started on February 3, contrary to claims by Goa police they approached Peruvian authorities in early January 2011 seeking his custody.
The Israeli fugitive wanted in the infamous drug-nexus case was arrested by Interpol at Lima International Airport on January 8 after they found his name on the red-corner notice issued against him.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) authorities told Herald that the State police faulted in their proceedings and asked for deportation instead of extradition, which delayed the process further.
Police spokesperson Superintendent of Police Atmaram Deshpande on January 19 had told reporters that diplomatic communication between India and Peru authorities was being used to expedite Atala’s extradition process.
But ironically, Goa police had sought Atala’s ‘deportation’ instead of ‘extradition’ which messed up the process.
On January 10, Goa Government moved for Atala’s deportation through the Delhi CBI Interpol. After receiving communication from Goa, the Indian Consulate in Peru referred the matter back to MEA in Delhi to seek further advice as ‘deportation’ would be time-consuming.
“Even if his deportation order was issued, Atala would have been taken to the original port of embarkation in Israel. He would have been deported to Israel. His presence in India would have been impossible”, a MEA source said.
The MEA quickly rectified the whole process and asked for Atala’s extradition on February 3, a copy of which was faxed to Goa Crime Branch on the very same day.
Now, even if the extradition process has been moved after a delay of 37 days, Atala’s presence in India seems difficult.
MEA Joint Secretary P M Meena said that India and Peru do not have extradition treaty and that Peru is not a signatory of the United Nation convention against illicit traffic in narcotics and psychotropic substances.
Besides, the extradition formalities demand that an alleged accused should either be chargesheeted or wanted for case trial or should be a convict. Unfortunately, none of these is found in Atala’s case.
Atala was arrested at Lima’s international airport after he arrived from Spain. On immigration check, he was caught on the basis of valid international warrant issued by India for his capture in police-drug nexus case and overstaying.