•The US offered up to $2 million (Sh233 million) for both suspects. Sources said the Saleh was being processed ahead of planned processing and extradition to the USA.

One of the two men wanted by the US government was Monday arrested following a tip-off of his hideout in Nairobi.

Badru Abdul Aziz Saleh was detained at the Gigiri police cells following his arrest by detectives.

He and Abdi Hussein Ahmed who is at large had Sh233 million bounty on their heads for trafficking wildlife and narcotics to the USA.

The United States government on April 26 offered a ransom of Sh233 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of the two Kenyans.

The US offered up to $2 million (Sh233 million) for both suspects.

Sources said the Saleh was being held ahead of planned processing and extradition to the USA.

No details were available on who tipped the officials, his whereabouts and if the ransom would be paid out.

But an informed officer said: “The bounty that was given out was real and whoever was responsible for his arrest will definitely get the money. For safety reasons, we can’t discuss that further.”

Abdi Hussein Ahmed remains at large.

Abdi Hussein Ahmed remains at large.

Aziz and Ahmed are accused of being part of an international organised criminal network that trafficked wildlife and sought to traffic illicit drugs to the United States.

They are accused of conspiring to smuggle at least 190 kilograms of rhino horns and 10 tonnes of ivory.

Acting US ambassador to Kenya Eric Kneedler said the rhino horns and ivory were valued at $7 million (Sh800m).

He said the two fugitives are major violators of US narcotics and wildlife trafficking laws and are wanted for their alleged involvement in an international organized criminal network that trafficked wildlife from Africa and sought to traffic illicit drugs to the United States.

The indictment against the two further alleges a conspiracy to distribute approximately 10 kilograms of heroin.

“Eradicating drug and wildlife trafficking is 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” said Kneedler.

The reward is offered by the United States (U.S. Department of State, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration) with the full support of the Kenyan National Police Service.

He added last week the United States and Kenya will continue to collaborate to combat wildlife trafficking, drug trafficking, and any other transnational crime affecting both countries.

DCI boss George Kinoti called on all actors in the justice system to assist in the arrest and prosecution of the two.

He said the two with Mansur Mohamed Sahul who was arrested on several occasions between December 2012 and May 2019 are wanted for the crimes.

He added 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 with respect to the said suspects, Sahul Mansur Mohamed and Ahmed Abdi Hussein, while a warrant of arrest was issued with respect to Saleh Badul.”

Kinoti said Saleh 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.

Individuals with information on the fugitive’s whereabouts are asked to contact the Fish and Wildlife Service at +1-844-FWS-TIPS or +1-844-397-8477 or email FWS_TIPS@fws.gov, or the Kenyan Directorate of Criminal Investigations Hotline at +254(0)800722203.  Identities are kept strictly confidential.

Source:the-star.co.ke/news