Canadian bicycle police capture one of America’s most wanted

A man stopped by two Montreal cops on routine bike patrol duty turned out to be a fugitive on America’s Top 10 Most Wanted list. The alleged drug trafficker wanted in six US states was considered ‘armed and dangerous.’

When police in Montreal, Quebec stopped Katay-Khaophone Sychantha, 35, a dual citizen of Canada and Laos, it was because they suspected him and another man of drug possession, according to the Montreal Gazette.

Trying to distract police with fake identification papers, Sychantha initially escaped but the cops gave chase and apprehended him. When he was fingerprinted his true identity was revealed, along with his telltale partially amputated middle finger.

Sychantha was wanted on outstanding warrants by the Ontario Provincial Police involving a series of drug trafficking-related offenses, and was also on the US' Ten Most Wanted list.

The wanted poster on the ICE website, which now reads 'Arrested' and comes with a $25,000 bounty, alleges he was first indicated in Michigan in 2005 for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

A statement issued by ICE following the arrest described Sychantha as “the suspected ring leader of a drug-smuggling organization which supplied millions of ecstasy pills and hundreds of pounds of marijuana to several distributors located in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Massachusetts, Georgia, and New York.”

Despite the indictment, Sychantha evaded capture and continued his drug-smuggling activities in Canada. In 2013, a second indictment was issued against him for illegal drug distribution.

“He has a history of violence and has allegedly made threats against HSI Special Agents and other law enforcement officials,” the wanted poster states.

The notice described Sychantha as someone who should be considered as “armed and dangerous.”

Sychantha was arraigned in a Montreal courthouse last Thursday, where he was charged with drug possession, trying to mislead a police officer, and carrying fake identification.

He is expected to be turned over to the Ontario Provincial Police and might eventually be extradited to the US.