Mansur Mohamed Surur, a Kenyan national, will receive a criminal trial in the United States after he on Friday, December 18, 2020, lost a case attempting to block the government from extraditing him.
Milimani Law Courts Chief Margistrate Martha Muthuku ruled that the case brought against the accused by the US government had merit and that the Director of Public Prosecution Noordin Haji had produced evidence proving Mansur was a fugitive.
Mohamed is alleged to be a poaching kingpin and is wanted by the US on various accounts of wildlife trafficking involving indigenous animals.
Justice Muthuku ordered that Mansur be repatriated and surrendered to the US government in 15 days.
Mansur, a dual citizen of Kenya and Yemen, will be tried in the US in relation to five accounts of criminal activities ranging from illegal trade in Ivory and money laundering.
Daily Nation reported the 60-year-old was accused of illegally poaching more than 35 rhinos, and over 100 elephants, both protected species, valued in excess of Ksh 700 million.
A warrant of arrest had been issued against the Kenyan after he appeared in a New York court to answer to charges on; conspiracy to commit wildlife trafficking, money laundering, distribution and possession of narcotics.
Between December 2012 and May 2019, Mansur is alleged to have sold over 10 tonnes of elephant ivory and 190 kilograms of rhinoceros horns. He is said to have sourced the parts from across various countries in Africa.
On August 8, 2019, the Directorate of Criminal Investigation was the recipient of a notice from the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) indicating that Mansur was a wanted man.
Abdul Aziz Saleh, who is said to have been Mansur's colleague was arrested and extradited to the US.
Mansur escaped Kenya in July 2019. However, he was later arrested on July 29, 2020, at Moi international airport, Mombasa. He was among the Kenyans that had been stranded in Yemen and returned to the country by a chartered flight.
