AIRPORT CASE MAY TAKE YEARS

U.S. Officials Want Seven Extradited On Drug Charges

A supervisor at Pearson International Airport walked out of court
yesterday, a free man for the moment in what will likely be a lengthy
legal battle to have him extradited to the United States on drug
smuggling charges.

With his teary-eyed wife, Elena, and mother, Maria, looking on from
the gallery, Daniele Carlo Cappa was released from a University Ave.
courthouse on $450,000 bail, along with two other alleged gang members.

The 38-year-old Maple resident had been in custody since Wednesday
after he and six others were arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police, in a joint operation with the U.S. Federal Bureau of
Investigation, on suspicion of running a multi-million-dollar drug
smuggling ring between Florida and Toronto.

American authorities want the seven men, including two employees at
Pearson, a used car salesman and a jeweller, extradited to the U.S. to
face charges there.

That process could take months, if not years, before a final decision
is reached, say those connected to the case.

American authorities have 60 days from the day of the arrest to file
evidence against the seven men, which includes the testimony of at
least one insider who became a police informant.

With four of the seven men released on bail, the next step in the
legal process is bail hearings for the other three accused, with the
next court appearance Thursday, said federal crown prosecutor Howard
Piafsky, who is acting on behalf of U.S. authorities.

After that, a hearing will be held to determine if there is enough
evidence to commit the seven men to trial. If a judge believes they
could be convicted then an extradition order is signed, said Piafsky.

But the minister of justice has to review the case before deciding if
they should be extradited, said the prosecutor.

The minister's decision can be appealed to the Ontario Court of
Appeal, he said. That decision could be appealed to the Supreme Court
of Canada.

It's a process that could go on for months, if not years, lawyer Paul
Slansky, who appeared in court for Cappa, said later.