Kenyan authorities have extradited a Lebanese national wanted for narcoterrorism and money laundering following a successful operation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU).
The suspect, Antoine Kassis, was handed over today to U.S. security agents after the conclusion of legal proceedings in Kenya.
Kassis, a fugitive, was apprehended earlier this year at a hotel in Kiambu County by ANU detectives acting on a Red Notice issued by NCB Washington, USA, and a warrant from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Kassis had reportedly arrived in the country aboard a Qatar Airways flight before his arrest. He was detained at Gigiri Police Station as the extradition process commenced.
His extradition was sanctioned by a Milimani Magistrate’s Court order issued on April 16, 2025, under case number MCCR Misc/E1025/2025, along with a surrender warrant from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) dated May 2, 2025.
Today’s handover was conducted under tight security, with the fugitive escorted by agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and a senior prosecutor from the ODPP.
In a statement, the DCI reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to combating transnational crime, pledging continued collaboration with both local and international law enforcement agencies. “We will not allow Kenya to become a haven for narcoterrorists, drug traffickers, money launderers, or any other criminal elements,” the statement read.
This extradition marks a significant step in global efforts to disrupt international drug trafficking and related terror financing networks.
