The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has announced the arraignment of a human trafficker who was involved in the trafficking of an 18-year-old male who vanished four years ago under mysterious circumstances.
At the time of his disappearance, the victim was aged 14 years and was a student at Mandera DEB Primary School.
According to the DCI, once the victim vanished in 2021, his parents desperately searched for their son and discovered that he was held captive in Libya.
The family was then forced to pay a Ksh2.4 million ransom to two individuals based in Somalia for their son to be released, but despite the efforts, their son remained in captivity.
"Upon his disappearance, his parents launched a desperate search for their son. Their worst fears were confirmed when they discovered that Ali Noor was being held captive in Libya. In a bid to secure his release, the family paid a ransom of Ksh2.35 million to two individuals," DCI said.
"Despite their immense sacrifice, the parents' efforts proved futile, as their son remained in captivity," it added.
Four years later, on March 12, 2025, the victim eventually made contact with his mother from a hospital in Tunisia and revealed that he was shot in both his legs. The DCI did not disclose where or why he was shot.
After getting into contact with his family, it was later established that the victim had escaped, alongside other captives, including two Kenyans from Mandera, from Libya to Tunisia in November 2023.
"It was revealed that the victim had been trafficked to Libya before escaping in November 2023. He fled to Tunisia alongside other captives, including two fellow Kenyans from Mandera, who are currently caring for him in the said hospital," DCI said
Upon investigation through forensic intelligence, the detectives from the Anti-Terrorist Police Unit (ATPU) trailed and apprehended the suspect, who they say played a key role in facilitating the victim's trafficking.
The DCI has, however, not said where and when the suspect was arrested or whether the victim has been physically reunited with his family.
The DCI said that the suspect was presented for prosecution by the ATPU detective officers at the Mandera Law Courts on Friday, March 14.
According to the DCI, the case is set to be mentioned on April 4, 2025, after the prosecution secured a 21-day custodial order.
"Bilal Shukri Ahmed has today been presented for prosecution by officers from the Anti-Terrorist Police Unit (ATPU) based in Mandera for his involvement in the trafficking of Bilal Ali Noor, now 18, who vanished on February 21, 2021, under mysterious circumstances," DCI said.
