Kenya’s criminal investigation unit, George Kinoti, said the two Kenyan nationals were wanted for drug and wildlife trafficking worth millions of dollars.
“They were involved in transportation, distribution and smuggling of 190 kilograms of rhinoceros horns and 10 tons of elephant ivory from different countries in Africa, including our country, Kenya, and they transported these things to the United States," Kinoti said.
Speaking to reporters Thursday in Nairobi, Kinboti added ""They were also involved in transportation and distribution of one kilogram of heroin from Kenya to the United States.”
Saleh and Ahmed were indicted in the United States in 2019 and the international police organization Interpol issued a red notice against the suspects.
Kinoti said Saleh was arrested in June 2019 and arraigned in a Kenyan court, where he was released on bail. He was last seen in December 2019.
The United States has taken action before against wildlife traffickers. In July 2020, another suspected wildlife trafficker, Abubakar Mansur Mohammed Surur, was arrested and extradited to the U.S. Surur was accused of illegally poaching more an 100 elephants and at least 35 rhinos
Nairobi U.S. Embassy Charge D'Affairs Eric Kneedler in Nairobi, said in a statement that eradicating drug and wildlife trafficking was a priority of President Joe Biden's administration and that the U.S. would work with Kenya to stamp out the crimes, which are affecting both countries.
Information on the reward offer can be found on the U.S. Embassy website.
