Romanian authorities formally request extradition of Stanislav Stamenov

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said Romanian authorities have formally requested the extradition of a convicted Bulgarian drug trafficker, as legal proceedings get underway in Cape Town.
 
Stanislav Stamenov appeared in the Wynberg Magistrates Court on Monday after being arrested on Friday on the strength of an Interpol red notice.

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Stamenov was sentenced in 2009 by a Romanian court to 16 years in prison for his involvement in a drug trafficking syndicate.
 
He fled and has been living in Cape Town for the past 16 years.
  
The NPA said South African police were within their rights to arrest Stamenov, confirming that 
an official extradition request has now been received from Romania.
 
But defence lawyer William Booth has challenged the legality of the arrest, arguing that an Interpol red notice is not a valid warrant.
 
"There was no formal application done previously through diplomatic channels for South African authorities to consider and decide whether or not there's merit in the application from Romania."
 
The matter has been postponed to Wednesday as the extradition process moves forward.