An Afghan national wanted in the United States over alleged narcotics trafficking and firearms offences has been extradited from Kenya following the conclusion of court proceedings, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has announced.
In a statement, the DCI said the suspect was extradited to the United States on July 9, 2026, to face charges related to an alleged conspiracy to import narcotics, as well as possession of machine guns and destructive devices.
The extradition was executed by the DCI’s Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) after Kenyan courts approved the request.
“It marked the culmination of close cooperation between the DCI, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the Judiciary, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and INTERPOL,” the agency said.
According to the DCI, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York issued a warrant for the suspect’s arrest on March 25, 2025, in connection with the alleged offences.
An INTERPOL Red Notice was subsequently issued to facilitate his arrest and extradition.
The DCI said detectives arrested the suspect in Nairobi on April 15, 2025, shortly after he arrived in Kenya from Kabul, Afghanistan.
“Acting on the Red Notice and the U.S. arrest warrant, detectives mounted a coordinated operation that led to his arrest in Nairobi shortly after he arrived from Kabul,” the statement said.
Following the arrest, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions initiated extradition proceedings before the Milimani Law Courts.
The court granted custodial orders pending the determination of the application before authorising his surrender to the United States in accordance with Kenyan law.
On Thursday, detectives from the Anti-Narcotics Unit escorted the suspect from Industrial Area Prison to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where he was formally handed over to officials from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration before departing for the United States.
The DCI described the extradition as a product of close collaboration between Kenyan and American law enforcement agencies in combating transnational organised crime.
The agency said the operation demonstrates the two countries’ continued partnership in investigating and prosecuting cross-border criminal networks involved in narcotics trafficking and related offences, while reaffirming Kenya’s commitment to the rule of law and its international legal obligations.
