Western Australia's top police officer has publicly vented his frustration over a six-year bureaucratic stalemate preventing the extradition of an alleged international drug trafficker from Iran.
Commissioner's Public Outburst Over Delayed Justice
WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch did not mince words when discussing the case of Arash Ebrahimi-Far, a man wanted on serious drug trafficking allegations. "It's the kid," Commissioner Blanch began, highlighting his personal frustration with the protracted process. He revealed the case has been a lingering issue since he was a deputy commissioner, and now, as the state's top cop, he is still waiting for a resolution.
The core of the issue lies with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the federal government's inability to secure Ebrahimi-Far's return from Iran. Blanch confirmed that while the AFP is leading the extradition efforts, the process is mired in international legal and diplomatic complexities. "The kid is in Iran. We know where he is," Blanch stated, emphasising that the suspect's location is not a mystery, but bringing him to face Australian courts has proven impossible so far.
The Allegations and the International Hurdle
Arash Ebrahimi-Far is wanted in connection with serious drug trafficking offences. The WA Police Force has completed its investigative work and is ready to proceed, but cannot move forward without the suspect being present on Australian soil.
The Commissioner outlined the painful reality of the situation: his officers have done their job, but the final step depends on federal authorities navigating the challenging relationship with Iran. Australia does not have a bilateral extradition treaty with Iran, making such cases exceptionally difficult and reliant on discretionary cooperation between governments. This legal gap is the primary cause of the six-year delay that has so exasperated the police leadership.
A Systemic Problem and a Plea for Resolution
Commissioner Blanch's comments shed light on a broader systemic issue affecting international law enforcement. Cases involving countries without formal extradition agreements can stall indefinitely, leaving victims and investigators in a state of limbo. The Commissioner's public airing of this frustration is a rare move, underscoring the depth of the impasse.
He stopped short of directly criticising the AFP, instead framing it as a shared problem. "It's an AFP extradition. I work very closely with the AFP," he said, but made it clear that the current situation is unacceptable. The message from WA's highest-ranking police officer is unequivocal: after six years, it is time for a breakthrough. The community expects alleged criminals to face justice, and every year of delay undermines that principle.
The ball now remains in the federal court. Until diplomatic or legal channels can find a way to bring Arash Ebrahimi-Far back to Australia, the WA police case file, and the Commissioner's frustration, will continue to grow older.
