The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has extradited an Afghan national wanted by United States authorities to face charges linked to an alleged narcotics importation conspiracy and firearms offenses.
In a statement on July 11, the DCI said Abdul Zahir Qadeer, also known as Haji Abdul Zahir, was extradited to the United States on July 9, following the conclusion of extradition proceedings before Kenyan courts.
The agency said the operation was carried out by its Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) in collaboration with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the Judiciary, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and INTERPOL.
The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York issued an arrest warrant for Qadeer on March 25, 2025, according to the DCI, over allegations of conspiracy to import narcotics and possession of machine guns and destructive devices.
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An INTERPOL Red Notice was later issued to facilitate his arrest and eventual surrender to U.S. authorities.
“According to the extradition request, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York issued a warrant of arrest against Qadeer on March 25, 2025, in connection with charges of narcotics importation conspiracy and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. An INTERPOL Red Notice was subsequently issued to facilitate his arrest and surrender to the United States,” the DCI said.
DCI Arrest in Nairobi and Court Proceedings
The DCI said detectives from its Anti-Narcotics Unit arrested Qadeer in Nairobi on April 15, 2025, shortly after he arrived from Kabul, Afghanistan, acting on an INTERPOL Red Notice and a warrant issued by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
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Following his arrest, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) filed an extradition application at the Milimani Law Courts seeking Qadeer’s surrender to the United States to face criminal charges.
The court ordered that he remain in custody while the extradition case was heard and determined. After reviewing the application, the court approved his extradition to the U.S. in line with Kenya’s extradition laws.
On Thursday, July 9, detectives from the DCI’s Anti-Narcotics Unit collected Qadeer from Industrial Area Prison and escorted him to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), where the transfer was completed.
“There, he was formally handed over to officials from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration before departing to the United States,” the DCI said.
The agency said the extradition marked the culmination of close cooperation between the DCI, the ODPP, the Judiciary, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and INTERPOL in facilitating the suspect’s surrender through the legal process.
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