1 of America's most wanted fugitives is nabbed by bicycle-riding Montreal police - Action News
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Montreal

1 of America's most wanted fugitives is nabbed by bicycle-riding Montreal police

After eluding top U.S. law enforcement for more than a decade, one of America's most wanted criminals and the suspected ringleader of a powerful drug-smuggling organization has been caught by two bicycle-mounted police officers in Montreal.

Laotian-Canadian, 35, alleged to be drug-smuggling ringleader with 'history of violence,' may face extradition

Katay-Khaophone Sychanta, 35, was caught Aug. 23 in Montreal near the Bois-Franc train station. (U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement)

After eluding top U.S. law enforcement for more than a decade, one of America's most wanted fugitives and the suspected ringleader of a powerful drug-smuggling organization was caught by two bicycle-mounted police officers in Montreal.

Katay-Khaophone Sychanta, a 35-year-old dual citizen of Laos and Canada, was arrested Aug. 23 by officers on bike path patrol in the city's Saint-Laurent borough.

He was nabbed at theBois-Franctrain station after attempting to flee from the officers, one of whom got off his bike and chased the suspect down on foot.

The officers had suspected Sychanta and a second man of possessing drugs.

Police say Sychanta gave the officersfake U.S. identification, but fingerprinting later revealed a different identity.

"Luckily, with the identification we were able to locate a man that was wanted for three years," said Montreal police spokesperson Const. Jean-Pierre Brabant.

May face extradition

A native of Laos,Sychanta, whose last name is also spelled Sychantha,was on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's list of 10 most wanted fugitives.

He was first indicted in Michiganin 2005 for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

But Sychanta evaded captureand allegedly continued to supervise a drug smuggling organization based in Windsor, Ont., according toU.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

In 2013, Sychanta's continued allegedillicit activity led to asecond indictment in Michigan forconspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

Katay-Khaophone Sychanta, whose last name is also spelled Sychantha, was arrested Aug. 23 in Montreal. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement )

According to ICE, he is the suspected head of a drug-smuggling ring that supplied millions of ecstasy pills and hundreds of pounds of marijuana to distributors in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Massachusetts, Georgia and New York.

Hehas also allegedly directed individuals to smuggle millions inbulk cash, guns, cocaine and heroin from the United States into Canada.

'History of violence'

Before beingtracked down in Montreal, ICE suspected he could be "hiding in the United States, Canada, Mexico, or Asia."

"He has a history of violence and has allegedly made threats against HSI Special Agents and other law enforcement officials,"ICEstates on its website, adding that he should be considered "armed and dangerous."

Sychantaappeared in a Montreal court last Thursday, where he was charged with possession, obstructing the work of a peace officer and using a forged document.

He has now been transferred to Ontario Provincial Police and may face extradition to the U.S.

With files from Brennan Neill