By Issa Hussein - Reporter
Kenya, July 11, 2026 - Kenya has extradited an Afghan national wanted in the United States on alleged narcotics trafficking and firearms offences following the conclusion of court proceedings.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said its Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) extradited Abdul Zahir Qadeer, also known as Haji Abdul Zahir, to the US on July 9 after a Kenyan court approved the request.
According to the DCI, the extradition followed collaboration between the agency, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the Judiciary, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and INTERPOL.
US authorities allege that Qadeer was involved in a conspiracy to import narcotics into the United States and also faces charges related to the possession of machine guns and destructive devices.
The DCI said the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York issued a warrant for his arrest on March 25, 2025, prompting INTERPOL to circulate a Red Notice seeking his arrest and extradition.
Detectives arrested Qadeer in Nairobi on April 15, 2025, shortly after he arrived from Kabul, Afghanistan.
Following his arrest, the ODPP initiated extradition proceedings at the Milimani Law Courts. The court granted custodial orders pending the hearing of the application before authorising his surrender to the United States in accordance with Kenyan law.
On July 9, ANU detectives escorted Qadeer from Industrial Area Prison to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where he was handed over to officials from the US Drug Enforcement Administration for transfer to the United States.
The DCI said the extradition demonstrates continued cooperation between Kenyan and US law enforcement agencies in tackling transnational organised crime and reflects Kenya's commitment to meeting its international legal obligations through due judicial process.
The US charges against Qadeer remain allegations, and he is expected to answer them before the relevant US court.
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