Kenya Extradites Afghan Suspect Wanted by US After Interpol Red Notice
An Afghan national arrested in Nairobi after an Interpol Red Notice has been extradited to the United States to face alleged narcotics importation conspiracy and firearms-related charges.
Abdul Zahir Qadeer, also known as Haji Abdul Zahir, was handed over to officials from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on Thursday, July 9, after Kenyan courts concluded extradition proceedings that had been ongoing since his arrest in April 2025.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the extradition was carried out through its Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) following close collaboration with Kenyan and US law enforcement agencies.
“The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), through its Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU), has successfully extradited Afghan national Abdul Zahir Qadeer, also known as Haji Abdul Zahir, to face charges in the United States relating to an alleged narcotics importation conspiracy and related firearms offences,” the DCI said.
The agency added:
“The extradition, effected on July 9, 2026, followed the conclusion of extradition proceedings before Kenyan courts and marked the culmination of close cooperation between the DCI, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the Judiciary, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and INTERPOL.”
Qadeer’s legal troubles began after the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York issued an arrest warrant against him on March 25, 2025.
The warrant relates to allegations of narcotics importation conspiracy as well as possession of machine guns and destructive devices.
Following the issuance of the warrant, INTERPOL circulated a Red Notice to facilitate his arrest and extradition.
Acting on the international alert together with the US arrest warrant, detectives from the DCI arrested Qadeer in Nairobi after he arrived from Kabul, Afghanistan, on April 15, 2025, in a coordinated operation.
Following his arrest, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions initiated extradition proceedings before the Milimani Law Courts.
The court granted custodial orders allowing Qadeer to remain in custody while the extradition application was being heard.
Upon conclusion of the proceedings, the court authorised his extradition in accordance with Kenyan law.
According to the DCI, detectives from the Anti-Narcotics Unit collected Qadeer from Industrial Area Prison before escorting him to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
At the airport, he was formally handed over to DEA officials before departing for the United States, where he is expected to face the charges contained in the US indictment.
The case highlights continued cooperation between Kenyan authorities and international law enforcement agencies in pursuing suspects wanted for transnational crimes, particularly those involving narcotics trafficking and organised criminal networks.
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