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16 July 2020, 7:35am
Media Release

Fresh calls in the hunt for alleged fugitive

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has renewed calls for public assistance to help locate a Sydney man due to face trial for planning to import more than 250 kilograms of methamphetamine into Australia.

The appeal comes after 55-year-old Jim Soukoulis failed to face the Melbourne County Court again yesterday (Wednesday 15 July, 2020). Warrants for his arrest remain active.

Soukoulis is wanted in connection to an alleged conspiracy to import 255 kilograms of illicit drugs via light aircraft from California into Australia in 2017. 

The accused was arrested in July 2017, before being extradited to Melbourne and bailed to live at an address in South Melbourne when released from custody in November 2017, but later absconded while on bail in November 2019.

Soukoulis has lived in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne and has family connections in Greece. He also frequently travelled to Thailand.

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 left chest, a Taurus bull on right chest and Greek mythology figure Medusa on his back.

Once located, Soukoulis is due to face trial for the following charges:

  • Conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs, namely methamphetamine, contrary to section 307.1 and section 11.5 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth)
  • Deal with an instrument of crime - money worth $1,000,000 or more contrary to section 400.3 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth)
  • Deal with an instrument of crime - money worth $50,000 or more contrary to section 400.5 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).

He is also facing the following charge from a 2013 matter (which was proceeding through court at the time of his disappearance):

  • Traffic a marketable quantity of controlled drugs, namely cocaine and methamphetamine, contrary to section 302.3 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Previous media statements relating to the search for Jim Soukoulis can be found here.

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