Extradited Thai national Wuthikorn Naruenartwanich sent to NIA's custody till December 21

NEW DELHI: More than two years after he was caught in Bangkok, India has secured extradition of a Thai gun runner Willy Naru who was brought to New Delhi Sent from my iPhone

Wily a notorious arms dealer was brought to Indian after months of legal battle in Thailand and after the Appellate Court in Bangkok rejected his petition in November this year in which he had challenged a decision of a lower court ordering his extradition.

NIA said in a statement here that the custody of Wuthikorn Naruenartwanich alias Willy Naru was handed over to the Chief Investigating Officer of case Tuesday by Thailand. He was brought to New Delhi and was arrested.

His questioning is expected to throw more light on the suspected role of a Chinese arms manufacturer, believed to have been supplying arms to northeast insurgent groups, including Naga groups and ULFA, official sources said.

This is first case of extradition of a Thai national to India and reflects expanding Indo-Thai security and counter-terror cooperation over the last two years. In all Thailand has extradited four individuals in India to Delhi during the past one year.

New Delhi and Bangkok have worked on extradition of Willy since NSA A K Doval visited Thai capital for consultations on various security related issues .

A Joint Task Force set up by both sides met in Delhi this August with an eye on discussing security coop. A Joint Working Group on security matters met last year and will meet in Delhi next January. Meanwhile there has been a high Level Defence Dialogue meeting in December in Bangkok.