Mamdouh Habib’s return to Australia from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, was delayed by some four hours at Sydney Airport when he was selected for security screening, The Ripper has learned. Mr Habib’s solicitor Stephen Hopper described the check as a “clear case of racial profiling” by security staff, but airport officials indicated they were just checking for illicit Cuban cigars that might undermine the huge markup in their overpriced duty-free tobacco shops.

Mr Habib and Mr Hopper flew into Sydney on a specially chartered flight accompanied by five armed Secret Service officers.

However, upon their arrival at the Sydney International Airport, Mr Habib and his armed escorts were “randomly selected” by airport security officers for further screening.

Mr Al Lurt, head of security for the International terminal, denied the claims of “racial profiling” and said that his officers became suspicious when Mr Habib’s leg irons and shackles set off the metal detector.

“The problem was exacerbated by the fact that the CIA agents refused to take Mr Habib’s bonds off or allow Mr Habib to re-enter the metal detector,” Mr Lurt said.

“Eventually we had to arrange for Mr Habib to be passed through the X-ray machine and it was a bugger fitting him into the little plastic tray with the CIA agents’ keys and wallets,” Mr Lurt said.

The situation was further complicated when a Japanese tourist mistook the ex-Guantanamo Bay inmate for his laptop computer and slung Mr Habib over his shoulder before departing the terminal.

Mr Lurt said the CIA agents were unable to follow Mr Habib and the Japanese tourist because his officers had detected traces of gunpowder on the heavily armed agents with handheld “sniffing” devices.

The CIA agents were eventually detained for further questioning.

Mr Habib was last seen in the vicinity of the Opera House with his new Japanese owner.