• "May I urge you all to be on the lookout for these two criminals roaming around freely."
• Kinoti said the suspects also transported and distributed one kilogram of heroin from Kenya to the US.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti has revealed the names of three suspects wanted by the United States government for drug trafficking and wildlife smuggling.
Speaking to the press at DCI headquarters, Kinoti called on Kenyans to be wary of the suspects whom he said are on the loose.
"May I urge you all to be on the lookout for these two criminals roaming around freely. One Abdi Hussein Ahmed, Badru Abdul Aziz Saleh both Kenyan nationals are wanted in the United States of America for drug and wildlife smuggling together with Mansur Mohamed Sahul who was arrested on several occasions between December 2012 and May 2019," he said.
The DCI boss said the suspects were involved in the transportation, distribution and smuggling of 190 kilos of rhinoceros horns, and 10 tonnes of elephant ivory from different countries in Africa, including Kenya which they transported to the US.
Kinoti said the suspects also transported and distributed one kilogram of heroin from Kenya to the US.
"On June 14, 2019, the United States Southern District Court of New York indicted the three individuals. Interpol issued a red notice in respect to the said suspects, Sahul Mansur Mohamed and Ahmed Abdi Hussein, while a warrant of arrest was issued in respect to Saleh Badru."
Kinoti said Saleh Badru was later arrested at the Busia border by DCI detectives on June 11, 2019, and arraigned at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport law courts, before he was released on Sh200 cash bail.
He added the suspect was directed to report to detectives every two weeks.
"However, upon release on bail, he disappeared up to December 2019 when he was last seen," Kinoti said.
Eric W. Kneedler, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., Embassy of the United States of America, Nairobi said, “Eradicating drug and wildlife trafficking are priorities of the Biden Administration. We are grateful for the continued partnership of the Government of Kenya to capture and arrest members of these criminal networks.”
The United States government also announced rewards of up to $1 million each for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Badru and Hussein.