'Most wanted' wildlife, drugs trafficker with Ksh.100M bounty arrested in Meru

A suspect wanted in the United States for allegedly trafficking wildlife and narcotics has been arrested by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Serious Crimes Unit. 

Abdi Hussein Ahmed, alias Abu Khadi, was apprehended at a rental room in Maua, Meru County on Tuesday, following a tip-off from area residents through the DCI's anonymous hotline.

Ahmed, alongside his accomplices Moazu Kromah, (aka Kampla Man), Amara Cherif (aka Bamba Isiaka) and Mansur Mohamed Suru (aka Mansour) were wanted in the US for allegedly taking part in a plot to smuggle rhinocerous horns and elephant tusks valued at more than USD 7 million (approx. Ksh.833.4 million) on diverse dates between December 2012 and May 2019. 

Their base of operations was alleged to be in Uganda where they smuggled approximately 190 kilograms of rhinoceros horns and at least 10 tonnes of ivory, drawn from various East African nations to ready markets in the United States and Southeast Asia. 

According to the DCI, the transnational criminal enterprise is responsible for the death of over 100 elephants and more than 35 rhinoceros. 

"Their indictment, followed a joint investigation of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), where a federal grand jury in the Southern District of New York, charged Ahmed and his other co-conspirators with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment," said the DCI in a statement. 

In May, the Kenyan and United States governments put up a USD 2 million reward (approx. Ksh.233 million) for information that may lead to the apprehension of Ahmed and Badru Abdul Aziz Saleh who were accused of allegedly trafficking heroin into the United States and smuggling wildlife, destined for international markets, out of Kenya and Uganda. 

"Ahmed’s arrest follows the arrest of his accomplice Badru Abdul Aziz Saleh, alias “Badro” on May 31, one week after a reward of $ 1Million USD was announced by the U.S. Department of State, through the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program (TOCRP) for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Abdi Hussein Ahmed, for participating in transnational organized crime, i.e. narcotics trafficking."

The arrests come just two months after DCI boss George Kinoti and U.S. ambassador Eric Kneedler held a joint briefing on combatting trans-national organised crimes in Nairobi. 

"The prosecution of this case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Sagar K. Ravi and Jarrod L. Schaeffer are in charge of the prosecution," said DCI.