Wellington man on run from drug charges

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A Wellington man is on the run after failing to turn up at an extradition hearing.

Bo Jiang, who has been living in Johnsonville, is wanted to face trial in America on charges of conspiracy and trafficking in counterfeit pharmaceuticals, including knock-offs of the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra.

Although he was reporting regularly on bail since January, Jiang went missing last week and may now have returned to China.

Wellington District Court heard yesterday that it might be impossible to extradite Jiang from China to America for the charges he faced.

Jiang, 33, has been in New Zealand on a business visa. He imported and sold Asian foodstuffs to supermarkets.

But the United States government wanted to extradite him to face about 30 charges relating to internet sales of counterfeit drugs - many for erectile dysfunction - bearing false trademarks.

Judge Carrie Wainwright was told that pills sold as Viagra had contained the same active ingredient as the real thing but some of the ''drugs'' did not. It was alleged that what was being sold as human growth hormone contained none, though that was not one of the charges on which the judge ordered Jiang to surrender for extradition.

Lawyer Fergus Sinclair said Jiang had been given bail in late January over the opposition of the US Government.

One of the issues raised during yesterday's hearing was whether parts of an interview a New Zealand detective and a US investigator had with Jiang could be used against him because the detective had ''threatened'' Jiang.

Jiang was told to tell the truth or his wife could be in big trouble. One of the issues he was asked about was whether money from the counterfeit drug ring was being ''laundered'' through New Zealand businesses. His wife, who is also believed to be in China, ran a bakery in the Wellington suburb of Kilbirnie, the court heard.

However, Mr Sinclair said the tone of the interview had not been oppressive, Jiang said his wife knew nothing about the counterfeit pills, and he did not make any admissions about money laundering.

Judge Wainwright decided it would be for the US trial court to decide what evidence was able to be used against Jiang.

It was alleged that many customers ordered the pills using internet chat rooms or instant messaging. Once an order was received Jiang would arrange the pills to be shipped to the customer.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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