Written by Lisa Murimi
In a dramatic turn of justice that spanned continents, Antoine Kassis—a Lebanese national accused of orchestrating a deadly web of narcoterrorism—has been extradited to the United States following a ruling by a Nairobi court.
Kassis, who was arrested in March at a luxury hotel in Nairobi, stood quietly in court as Milimani Principal Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi delivered the ruling that sealed his fate.
The courtroom fell into a tense silence as the magistrate announced the approval of the U.S. extradition request, stating that it met the stringent legal requirements under Kenya’s Extradition Act.
But behind the legalese lies a chilling narrative. According to U.S. court documents, Kassis allegedly played a central role in a criminal syndicate that trafficked cocaine from Colombia to Syria—trading poison for firepower.
DEA investigations claim he collaborated with a broker, known only as Kherfan, to launder money and sell military-grade weapons reportedly sourced from the Syrian regime.
These weapons, authorities say, found their way back into Colombia, fueling violence in a tragic cycle of drugs and warfare.
Escorted by armed DEA agents and a senior Kenyan prosecutor, Kassis was flown out under heavy security on Thursday.
He is now en route to face justice in a U.S. federal court on charges of conspiracy to commit narcoterrorism and money laundering.
His quiet surrender marked the end of a dark chapter—and perhaps, the beginning of long-overdue accountability for crimes that crossed borders and shattered lives.
