By Kelly Were
In a significant move demonstrating Kenya’s commitment to international justice cooperation, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has successfully secured extradition orders against Abdul Zahir Qadeer, an Afghan national wanted in the United States on serious narcotics and weapons charges.
Senior Principal Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi on Tuesday upheld an extradition request from the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which had previously issued an international arrest warrant for Qadeer, alias Haji Abdul Zahir. The extradition was also supported by an INTERPOL Red Notice dated April 14, 2025.
Qadeer was arrested in Nairobi at Safari Park Hotel, with the DPP’s office—represented by Principal Prosecution Counsel Victor Owiti—arguing that the charges qualify as extraditable offences under Kenyan law. The charges include; Narcotics Importation Conspiracy, possession of Machine Guns and Destructive Devices and conspiracy to Possess Machine Guns and Destructive Devices
Owiti further emphasized that the accused will be granted an opportunity to defend himself in U.S. courts, reinforcing Kenya’s adherence to fair trial standards and due process under international legal frameworks.
This extradition underscores Kenya’s continued collaboration with global partners in combating transnational organized crime, particularly narcotics trafficking and arms proliferation.
