Hong Kong ? Two Pakistanis and an Indian-born U.S. citizen in Hong Kong face proceedings beginning Monday to extradite them to the United States on charges that they plotted to swap drugs for anti-aircraft missiles to sell to the al-Qaida terror network.

The men were caught in an FBI sting operation by undercover agents who said the three offered to provide hashish and heroin in exchange for four shoulder-fired Stinger missiles, which experts say would be capable of shooting down civilian jetliners flying at low altitudes.

The hearing before Magistrate Ariana Ching is scheduled for five days. But both sides can appeal, so it could be some time before Hong Kong’s leader, Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa, makes the extradition decision.

Little is known about the defendants: Syed Mustajab Shah, 54, and Muhammed Abid Afridi, 29, both of Peshawar, Pakistan; and naturalized U.S. citizen Ilyas Ali, 55, of Minneapolis. They have been jailed since Hong Kong police arrested them Sept. 20.

Defense lawyer Jonathan Acton-Bond declined to comment.

The men are said to have met in September with undercover FBI agents in a Hong Kong hotel, where they allegedly agreed to sell 5 tons of hashish and 1,300 pounds of heroin, according to an indictment in the U.S. District Court in Southern California.

Before the Hong Kong meeting, Ali allegedly met in April with undercover FBI agents in San Diego, Calif., to discuss drug deals, the indictment says.

In Hong Kong, the defendants allegedly agreed to take Stinger missiles as payment for the drugs. They also allegedly told the FBI agents they would sell the missiles to al-Qaida.

The men are charged with conspiracy to import heroin and hashish, conspiracy to distribute heroin and hashish and providing material support to a terrorist organization.