NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya has extradited an Afghan national wanted by the United States over alleged involvement in an international drug trafficking network and firearms offences, marking the conclusion of a months-long legal process involving Kenyan authorities and U.S. law enforcement.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), through its Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU), on Thursday handed over Abdul Zahir Qadeer, also known as Haji Abdul Zahir, to officials from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) for transfer to the United States.
Qadeer is wanted by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which issued a warrant for his arrest on March 25, 2025.
He is expected to face charges of conspiracy to import narcotics into the United States, as well as possession of machine guns and destructive devices.
According to the DCI, an INTERPOL Red Notice issued after the U.S. arrest warrant triggered a coordinated international operation that culminated in Qadeer’s arrest in Nairobi on April 15, 2025, shortly after he arrived from Kabul, Afghanistan.
Following his arrest, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) initiated extradition proceedings before the Milimani Law Courts.
The court ordered that Qadeer remain in custody as the case was heard before approving his extradition in accordance with Kenya’s extradition laws.
On Thursday, detectives from the DCI’s Anti-Narcotics Unit collected the suspect from Industrial Area Prison and escorted him to JKIA, where he was formally handed over to DEA officials before departing for the United States.
The DCI said the extradition was made possible through collaboration between the Anti-Narcotics Unit, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Judiciary, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and INTERPOL.
Authorities described the operation as a demonstration of Kenya’s commitment to international cooperation in combating transnational organised crime, including drug trafficking and related offences.