Kenyan wanted in US over poaching arrested in Meru – Business Daily
Police on Wednesday presented Abdi Hussein Ahmed, a Kenyan wanted in the US for wildlife and drug trafficking, before a city court. FILE PHOTO | NMG
Abdi Hussein Ahmed, a Kenyan wanted in the US for wildlife and drug trafficking was on Wednesday presented before a city court after his arrest early this month.
Mr Ahmed had a bounty of up to Sh120 million (US $1) million for his capture and was arrested by detectives in a rented room in Mau, Meru county, where he has been hiding. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the fugitive was arrested after a tipoff.
The Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji is expected to commence proceedings of extraditing him to the US to face several charges. His accomplice, Badru Abdul Aziz Saleh was arrested in May and has since been extradited to the US.
Mr Ahmed was indicted by a US court alongside Moazu Kromah, aka “Ayoub,” aka “Ayuba,” aka “Kampala Man;” Amara Cherif, aka “Bamba Issiaka;” and Mansur Mohamed Surur, aka “Mansour,” for participating in a conspiracy to traffic in rhinoceros horns and elephant ivory, both protected wildlife species, valued at more than $7 million.
The suspects were involved in the illegal poaching of more than 35 rhinos and more than 100 elephants. Their indictment followed a joint investigation by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
They are alleged to have distributed and possessed with intent to distribute one kilogramme or more of heroin which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment.
In June, Mr Mansur, also a Kenyan pleaded guilty to poaching charges before a New York court and his accomplices made Sh864.8 million in seven years from the illegal sale of ivory and rhinoceros horns.
Mr Mansur pleaded guilty to conspiring to traffic in rhinoceros horns and elephant ivory, both endangered wildlife species, which involved the illegal poaching of more than approximately 35 rhinoceros and more than 100 elephants.
The Kenyan who was extradited to the USA in January admitted to one count of conspiracy to commit wildlife trafficking, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and another count of conspiracy to distribute and possess, with intent to distribute, one kg or more of heroin, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Documents from the Manhattan federal court showed that Mr Surur and his accomplices- Liberian Moazu Kromah and Amara Cherif from Guinea made at least Sh397.3 million from the sale of 190kg of rhino horns and Sh467.5 million from about 10 tonnes of trafficked ivory.
“In total, the estimated average retail value of the rhinoceros horn involved in the conspiracy was at least approximately $3.4 million, and the estimated average retail value of the elephant ivory involved in the conspiracy was at least approximately $4 million,” Mr Damian Williams, US attorney for the Southern District of New York, in a statement.
[email protected]
