Daniel Duggan has been entangled in legal troubles for over three-and-a-half years, having been accused of violating U.S. arms-trafficking laws by instructing Chinese pilots while in South Africa from 2010 to 2012.

The Duggan family’s prolonged battle to prevent his extradition hit a significant setback in December 2024. At that time, Mark Dreyfus, who was the attorney general, gave the green light for Duggan’s extradition to the United States.

Recently, Justice James Stellios delivered a swift and stinging decision, dismissing Duggan’s appeal and ordering him to cover the government’s legal expenses.

Duggan and his legal team now have a 28-day window to file an appeal against this ruling.

His lawyers have contended that the alleged offense was not recognized as a crime in Australia at the time the actions took place. This point is crucial, as extradition treaties require that the offense must be criminal in both the country requesting the extradition and the country receiving the request for the extradition to proceed legally.

An offence must have been criminal in both the requesting and requested countries for an extradition to be legally permissible.

Ms Duggan gathered with supporters to hear the decision being handed down.

She has been open about the crippling financial toll the legal battle has taken on her family, who estimate their legal bills amount to about half a million dollars.

Duggan has been refused Legal Aid, while an injunction placed on his family’s half-built house means they can neither sell it nor live in it.

He had been kept in a maximum security prison in central NSW around 100km from his family, Ms Duggan previously revealed.

Duggan previously wrote in a letter from prison that he believed his activities were not illegal and Australian and US intelligence services knew of his work.

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