KENYAN WHO RECEIVED KSH 116 MILLION REWARD REVEALED

Kenyan fugitive Badru Abdul Aziz Saleh who was being hunted down by detectives for alleged involvement in narcotics and wildlife trafficking has been arrested in Nairobi.

Saleh was arrested on Monday, May 30, just days after the Kenyan and US government offered a reward of USD l million (approx. Ksh.116 million) for his arrest, prosecution, and conviction.

A similar bounty of USD l million (approx. Ksh.116 million) was also placed on the head of Abdi Hussein Ahmed, who is yet to be arrested.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, US Ambassador to Kenya Eric W. Kneedler said Abdul was arrested by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) following a tip-off from members of the public.

“Acting on a tip from the public received by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, United States and Kenyan law enforcement officials cooperated to apprehend Badru Abdul Aziz Saleh on May 30, 2022,” said Eric W. Kneedler.

The US envoy added: “We welcome the news that Aziz Saleh has been captured.  This would not have been possible without the public’s support.  Abdi Hussein Ahmed is still out there, and I continue to appeal to the public for information leading to his arrest.”

The US embassy assured that the source of the information leading to Saleh’s capture will remain anonymous for their protection.

Abdi Hussein Ahmed and Badru Abdul Aziz Saleh are wanted for allegedly trafficking heroin into the United States and smuggling wildlife, destined for international markets, out of Kenya and Uganda. 

Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) George Kinoti, in a press address on Wednesday, said one of the suspects accomplices – Mansoor Mohammed – has since already been arrested and is in police custody.

DCI Kinoti said the three allegedly smuggled 190kg of rhino horns and 10 tonnes of elephant tusks, further calling for the protection of the nation’s wildlife.

The U.S. Department of State, in a subsequent statement, said: “Ahmed has been charged in the United States with wildlife trafficking in violation of the Lacey Act and with conspiracy to commit wildlife trafficking in violation of the Endangered Species Act and Lacey Act.”

“Ahmed and Saleh have been charged in the US with conspiracy to distribute heroin. Additionally, Ahmed is charged in Uganda and Kenya with violations of the Uganda Wildlife Act, the Kenya Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, and the Kenya East Africa Customs Act.”

By Citizen