A manhunt is under way to find a Sydney man wanted on serious drug charges who failed to appear in a Melbourne court on Wednesday.
Jim Soukoulis, 55, was extradited to Victoria in mid-2017 when he was charged over an alleged plan to import more than 250kg of methamphetamine from California to Australia via light aircraft.
He was bailed once he arrived in Melbourne and lived in the suburb of South Melbourne. He fled to an unknown location while on bail in November 2019.
On Wednesday, Mr Soukoulis was required to face the Melbourne County Court but did not appear. As well as the alleged plot to import drugs, he is charged with allegedly dealing with more than $1 million that police believe was an instrument of crime.
Australian Federal Police released an image of the man and called for assistance from the public to locate him.
Mr Soukoulis – who previously lived in Adelaide, frequented Thailand and has family connections in Greece – is also facing a 2013 charge for allegedly trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine. The case was proceeding at the time of his disappearance.
He is 180cm tall with a medium build, olive complexion, short grey hair and wears reading glasses.
He has distinctive tattoos, including a Capricorn star sign on his left chest, a Taurus bull on his right chest and Greek mythology figure Medusa on his back.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Sourced: Sydney Morning Herald.
