Kenyan Fugitive with $1 Million Bounty on His Head Arrested in Nairobi

A Kenyan fugitive who was being hunted by Kenyan and the United States authorities for alleged involvement in narcotics and wildlife trafficking has been arrested.

Badru Abdul Aziz Saleh was apprehended in Nairobi on Monday, just five days after the US government offered a USD$1 million (about Sh116 million) bounty for his arrest, prosecution, and conviction.

A similar monetary reward of $1 million was also placed on the head of a second suspect identified as Abdi Hussein Ahmed.

Eric Kneedler, the Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Nairobi, 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,” Kneedler said in a statement on Tuesday.

He 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 diplomat assured that the source of the information leading to Abdul’s arrest will remain anonymous for their safety.

Saleh and Ahmed are said to be part of an international organized criminal network that trafficked wildlife and sought to traffic illicit drugs to the US. The two are accused of conspiring to smuggle at least 190 kilos of rhino horns and 10 tonnes of ivory from different countries in Africa.

“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,” the US Department of State said in a statement.

“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.”