A chef is to be extradited from the United States to face charges in connection with the break-in at Special Branch offices in Belfast in March 2002.
The PSNI said today it has received instructions from the Public Prosecution Service that it intends to prosecute Larry Zaitschek (38), who now lives in New York.
He is to be accused of aggravated burglary, assaulting and imprisoning a police officer and having information likely to be useful to terrorists.
A police spokesman confirmed today: "We will now begin proceedings to request the extradition of this man from the United States."
Mr Zaitschek worked as a chef at Castlereagh where dozens of Special Branch files were stolen after an officer was overpowered by a gang which police later claimed belonged to the IRA.
Mr Zaitschek has consistently denied any involvement in the break-in and has started High Court proceedings in which he alleged the delay in bringing him back to the North was designed to stop him having access to his estranged wife and child.