The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has successfully obtained extradition orders for Abdul Zahir Qadeer, an Afghan national wanted in the United States on charges including narcotics importation conspiracy and possession of machine guns and destructive devices.
On Tuesday, Senior Principal Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi endorsed a U.S. District Court-issued arrest warrant and authorized Qadeer’s extradition to the United States to face the charges.
The DPP, represented by Principal Prosecution Counsel Victor Owiti, demonstrated that the offenses are extraditable and also constitute crimes under Kenyan law.
Qadeer was arrested in Nairobi on April 14, 2025, at the Safari Park Hotel shortly after arriving on a Qatar Airways flight.
His arrest followed a formal request by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which highlighted his significant role in a transnational narcotics network and concerns over his potential flight risk due to lack of permanent residence in Kenya.
The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York had issued an international arrest warrant on March 25, 2025, and Interpol issued a Red Notice on April 14, 2025.
