Badru Abdul Aziz Saleh Arrested After US Announced Ksh 116M Bounty

US Embassy, Nairobi, Charge d’Affaires Eric Kneedler and DCI Boss George Kinoti at the DCI HQ on Thursday, May 26, 2022.
US Embassy, Nairobi, Charge d’Affaires Eric Kneedler and DCI Boss George Kinoti at the DCI HQ on Thursday, May 26, 2022.
Capital Group

Officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Tuesday, May 31, arrested a suspect on whom the United States of America (USA) placed a Ksh116 million bounty for poaching and drug trafficking.

Speaking to the press, the Charge De Affairs at the US Embassy in Nairobi Eric Kneedler confirmed that Badru Abdul Aziz Saleh was intercepted by officers in Liboi, Garissa County as he attempted to flee to neighbouring Somalia.

He revealed that the officers responded swiftly from a tip-off from a member of the public and was ferried to Nairobi, where he is being held under police custody.

US Embassy, Nairobi, Charge d’Affaires Eric Kneedler at the DCI HQ on Thursday, May 26, 2022.
US Embassy, Nairobi, Charge d’Affaires Eric Kneedler at the DCI HQ on Thursday, May 26, 2022.
Courtesy

“We welcome the news that Aziz Saleh has been captured. This would not have been possible without the public’s support," the envoy stated.

Notably, a second fugitive, Abdi Hussein Ahmed is still on the run. Kneedler asked for Kenyans with any information leading to his arrest to reach out to the investigating officers.

The diplomat pointed out that details of the Kenyans who helped off the investigating agency would be withheld for security reasons. He added that the US government would honour its pledge of a Ksh116 million bounty

However, he clarified that the amount would be paid in full once the suspects were convicted successfully.

On May 26, the American government offered Ksh116 million (USD1 million) for information that would lead to the arrest of each of the two suspects. The two were wanted in America for allegedly being part of a syndicate that smuggled at least 190 kilograms of rhinoceros horns.

They were also accused of trafficking ten tons of elephant ivory and violating narcotics. Considered fugitives, they had been traced to Kenya by American intelligence.

The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) had stated that Abdi Hussein Ahmed alias Abu Khadi, was also wanted for his involvement in handling narcotics.

"Ahmed and Saleh were members of a transnational criminal enterprise (the “Enterprise”) based in Uganda and surrounding countries that were engaged in the large-scale trafficking and smuggling of rhinoceros horns and elephant ivory, both protected wildlife species.  

"A trade involving endangered or threatened species violates several US laws, as well as international treaties implemented by certain US laws," the US Department of Justice stated in an alert.

Wanted Kenyans fugitives, Badru Abdul Aziz Saleh and Abdi Hussein Ahmed pictures were displayed at the DCI HQ on Thursday, 26, 2022.
Wanted Kenyans fugitives, Badru Abdul Aziz Saleh and Abdi Hussein Ahmed pictures were displayed at the DCI HQ on Thursday, 26, 2022.
Courtesy
  • . . . .