Badru Abdul Aziz Saleh was detained at the Gigiri police cells following his arrest by detectives.
He and Abdi Hussein Ahmed, who is at large, had a Sh233 million bounty on their heads for trafficking wildlife trophies and seeking to traffic narcotics to the United States.
They are accused of conspiring to smuggle at least 190kg of rhino horn and 10 tonnes of ivory. Acting US ambassador to Kenya Eric Kneedler said the rhino horn and ivory were valued at $7 million (Sh800 million).
The indictment against the two further alleges a conspiracy to distribute about 10kg heroin.
The US government on April 26 offered a reward of Sh233 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of the two Kenyans.
US authorities disclosed that acting on a tip from the public received by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, US and Kenyan law enforcement officials cooperated to apprehend Saleh on Monday.
“Mr Saleh is in police custody in Nairobi. The information leading to Saleh’s capture came in response to the May 26 announcement of rewards seeking information leading to the arrest, prosecution and conviction of Saleh and Abdi Hussein Ahmed,” a statement read.
The US offered as much as to $2 million (Sh233 million) for both suspects. Sources said the Saleh was being processed ahead of planned processing and extradition to the US.
It was not known who tipped off the officials about the suspect's whereabouts and when the ransom would be paid.
An informed law enforcement officer said, "The bounty that was given out was real and whoever was responsible for his arrest will definitely get the money.
For safety reasons, we can’t discuss that further.”
Aziz and Ahmed are accused of being part of an international organised criminal network that trafficked wildlife and sought to traffic illicit drugs to the US.
He said the two fugitives are major violators of US narcotics and wildlife trafficking laws.
They are wanted, he said, for their alleged involvement in an international organised criminal network that trafficked wildlife from Africa and sought to traffic illicit drugs to the US.
“Eradicating drug and wildlife trafficking are priorities of the [US President Joe] Biden administration. We are grateful for the continued partnership of the Government of Kenya to capture and arrest members of these criminal networks,” Kneedler said.
The reward is offered by the US Department of State, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and US Drug Enforcement Administration, with the full support of the Kenyan National Police Service.
Kneedler last week said the US and Kenya will continue to collaborate to combat wildlife trafficking, drug trafficking, and any other transnational crime affecting both countries.
DCI boss George Kinoti called on all parties in the justice system to assist in the arrest and prosecution of the two.
He said the two, along with with Mansur Mohamed Sahul, who was arrested on several occasions between December 2012 and May 2019, are wanted for the crimes.
He said the suspects were involved in the transportation, distribution and smuggling of rhino horn and elephant ivory.
Kinoti said the suspects also transported and distributed one kilogram of heroin from Kenya to the US.
"On June 14, 2019, the United States Southern District Court of New York indicted the three individuals," he said
"Interpol issued a red notice in respect to the said suspects, Sahul Mansur Mohamed and Ahmed Abdi Hussein, while a warrant of arrest was issued in respect to Saleh Badul."
Saleh was later arrested at the Busia border by DCI detectives on June 11, 2019, and arraigned at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport law courts, before he was released on Sh200,000 cash bail.
The suspect was directed to report to detectives every two weeks. "However, upon release on bail, he disappeared up to December 2019 when he was last seen," Kinoti said.
Individuals with information on the fugitives' whereabouts are asked to contact:
The US Fish and Wildlife Service at +1-844-FWS-TIPS or +1-844-397-8477.
They can email [email protected].
They also can call the DCI hotline at +254(0)800722203.
Identities are kept strictly confidential.
(Edited by V. Graham)
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