US dad accused of kidnap is found with son in Niue

The FBI had issued an alert to authorities around the Pacific for Jeffrey Hanson. Photo / FBI

An American father accused of kidnapping his nine-year-old son and sailing from Seattle to the tiny South Pacific island of Niue on a 10-metre sailboat has been arrested after a search co-ordinated by the FBI and New Zealand authorities.

Jeffrey Hanson, 46, an experienced sailor, had been in a bitter custody dispute over his son with his ex-wife and was accused in court papers of being mentally unstable and a methamphetamine user.

He set sail on his sailboat, the Draco, from Seattle in early September with son Billy, telling friends he was heading to Mexico.

The FBI's legal attache in Canberra forwarded missing person and wanted posters to the Pacific Transnational Crime Coordination Centre (PTCCC), a multi-national law enforcement network of which the Niue Police Department is a member.

The FBI also issued alerts down the US west coast, Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska and Mexico.

But it was when Niue police went public with the search that locals provided the crucial tip that led authorities to Billy and Hanson last Wednesday.

Draco was found docked on Niue shores.

"We are grateful to law enforcement authorities in Niue for their exceptional efforts in finding Billy Hanson and taking Jeffrey Hanson in to custody," FBI special agent Frank Montoya Jr said.

"Their actions underscore the value of the FBI's partnerships around the world.

"These partnerships allow us to work effectively to uphold the rule of law and ensure justice is served."

The FBI also thanked the New Zealand Police, New Zealand Customs Service and Immigration New Zealand for their "tremendous assistance".

Niue is located 2400km northeast of New Zealand.

Hanson was flown under guard to Los Angeles on Monday and will appear in an LA court charged with international parental kidnapping.

The FBI is working with the US Department of Justice and US Department of State to reunite Billy with his mother in Pennsylvania.

- AAP