End of the road for Kenyan fugitive wanted by the US for wildlife, drug trafficking

GOOBJOOG NEWS|NAIROBI: One of the two fugitives wanted by the United States for alleged trafficking in wildlife products and drugs has been arrested in Kenya.

Badru Abdul Aziz Saleh was arrested at Liboi in Garissa County while attempting to cross over to Somalia.

His accomplice, Abdi Hussein Ahmed, is however still at large. 

On Thursday, the United States announced rewards of up to $1 million each for information leading to the arrest, prosecution and conviction of the two Kenyans.

US acting Ambassador to Kenya Eric Kneedler and Kenya’s intelligence chief had on Thursday, said Abdi Hussein and Badru Abdulaziz Saleh had conspired to smuggle 190kg of rhino horns and 10 tons of elephant ivory, from different countries in Africa, valued at around $ 6m.

The two, wanted by the US Fish and Wildlife and the Drug Enforcement Administration, had also planned to distribute 10kg of heroin.

Saleh was arrested back in 2019 for drug trafficking but released on bail, according to the U.S. State Department. A statement said he was a fugitive with an outstanding warrant for his arrest. A federal grand jury in New York indicted him in 2021.

If convicted, both could face up to 10 years in prison in the U.S.