Kenya, U.S put Ksh.233M bounty on two suspects over drug, wildlife trafficking

The Kenyan and United States governments have put a total USD 2 million reward (approx. Ksh.233 million) for information that may lead to the apprehension of two suspects believed to be part of a cross-border wildlife and heroin trafficking syndicate.

Abdi Hussein Ahmed and Badru Abdul Aziz Saleh are wanted for allegedly trafficking heroin into the United States and smuggling wildlife, destined for international markets, out of Kenya and Uganda. 

Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) George Kinoti, in a press address on Wednesday, said one of the suspects accomplices – Mansoor Mohammed – has since already been arrested and is in police custody.

DCI Kinoti said the three allegedly smuggled 190kg of rhino horns and 10 tonnes of elephant tusks, further calling for the protection of the nation’s wildlife.

The U.S. Department of State, in a subsequent statement, said: “Ahmed has been charged in the United States with wildlife trafficking in violation of the Lacey Act and with conspiracy to commit wildlife trafficking in violation of the Endangered Species Act and Lacey Act.”

“Ahmed and Saleh have been charged in the US with conspiracy to distribute heroin. Additionally, Ahmed is charged in Uganda and Kenya with violations of the Uganda Wildlife Act, the Kenya Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, and the Kenya East Africa Customs Act.”

Persons with any information that can lead to the arrest of the pair have been urged to either contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the DCI on their respective hotlines.

“This reward is offered under the Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program (TOCRP). The TOCRP and Narcotics Rewards Program (NRP) have helped bring more than 75 transnational criminals and major narcotics traffickers to justice since the inception of the NRP in 1986,” added the U.S. Department of State.

WANTED: Kenyan wildlife and narcotics traffickers. Information regarding their crimes should be reported to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the Drug Enforcement Administration 🚨🐘🚨 https://t.co/unVXvpQvSe pic.twitter.com/UZWCxri9wx