A former Perth fashion designer who was charged with a drug offence in 2010 has been extradited to Perth from Croatia, after spending more than a decade on the run overseas.
Benjamin Woodcock, 43, was arrested by Croatian authorities at Dubrovnik airport on the 1st of August, 12 years after he failed to appear in Perth Magistrates Court.
Mr Woodcock, who was one of the designers of fashion label Illionaire, was charged with one count of possessing a prohibited drug with the intent to sell or supply.
Police alleged he travelled overseas by boat in early October 2010 while on bail and visited several countries including Spain, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Croatia and Indonesia.
WA Police Force detectives accompanied Mr Woodcock as he arrived back in Perth on Friday night.
“We've gone to a lot of effort, working with our Commonwealth and international partners to locate this person and bring him back to face the judicial process here in Perth,” Detective Senior Sergeant Jeff Beros said.
“There's been a lot of resources that have gone into it."
Mr Woodcock allegedly changed his name several times and obtained a United Kingdom passport in another name.
Sergeant Beros said the original investigators on the case were tenacious.
“Every spare moment they had, they would pick up the file and have a look,” he said.
“Even though the male was one step ahead, their tenacity has proven to locate the person in Croatia, in Dubrovnik.
“If you commit a serious crime in Perth … it doesn't matter how long it takes, we'll find you and bring you back.”
Police believe Mr Woodcock acted alone.
He made a brief appearance in Northbridge Magistrates Court on Saturday and will be remanded in custody before reappearing on the 31st of January.
