A former Canberra builder locked up in a Serbian jail over a $500 million cocaine haul will fight his extradition to his homeland.
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Rohan Arnold, a prominent steel businessman, Tristan Waters, a former Canberra builder and nightclub boss, and David Campbell are currently behind bars in Serbia accused of being connected to the importation of 1280 kilograms of cocaine.
The drugs, which police say had a street value of $500 million, were found hidden inside pre-fabricated steel on a Chinese container boat in Sydney last April.
Australian authorities then sought to have Mr Waters and Mr Arnold returned home.
Last week, the Higher Court in Belgrade ruled Mr Waters, 34, and Mr Arnold, 44, "met legal conditions" for their extradition back to Australia, where they are expected to face criminal charges.
The pair's extradition had been set to go before the Serbian justice minister to be signed off, before the men could be brought home.
That process was expected to take only a matter of weeks.
However, Mr Waters - who is based in Dubai - has appealed that decision in a bid not to return to Australian shores.
Mr Arnold is not expected to oppose the extradition process.
It is understood Mr Waters' appeal was lodged late last month and will centre on multiple legal grounds challenging the Serbian courts decision to allow the extradition of the pair.
It is not known when the appeal will be heard and the process could potentially delay Mr Waters' and Mr Arnold's return indefinitely.
Mr Arnold's lawyer, Ben Aulich. said his client wanted to return home and would not oppose the extradition process.
"My client wishes to come back to Australia, so that he can meet the charges as soon as possible," Mr Aulich said.
"I have liaised with Mr Arnold's lawyers in Serbia and I expect that in the next few weeks he will arrive in Australia."
The Serbian court, however, has not ordered Mr Campbell's extradition.
Serbian authorities have previously said Mr Campbell had been held on suspicion of possessing the unauthorised gun seized during the hotel raid.
It is understood Mr Campbell, 48, from Murrumbateman, is to remain in Serbia to answer those allegations.
Mr Waters, who ran a now-closed Canberra nightclub Minque, runs a number of property development and investment businesses in Australia and was linked to the Australian Taxation Office fraud sting.
Companies linked to Mr Arnold and his business partner Mr Campbell, a former army member, supplied steel to a number of government projects in the ACT and NSW.
