Baktash Akasha Abdalla and his brother, Ibrahim Akasha Abdalla, were the leader and deputy of a sophisticated international drug trafficking network, responsible for tonnes of narcotics shipments throughout the world. For over twenty years, they manufactured and distributed drugs and engaged in acts of violence toward those who posed a threat to their enterprise. When the brothers encountered legal interference, they bribed Kenyan officials—including judges, prosecutors, and police officers—to avoid extradition to the United States.
The brothers, along with two associates, were arrested in Mombasa, Kenya by Kenyan Anti-Narcotics Unit officers in 2014, after providing 99 kilograms of heroin and two kilograms of methamphetamine to confidential sources posing as representatives of a South American drug cartel at the direction of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Following the arrests and pending extradition proceedings, the Akasha brothers continued criminal operations, using profits to bribe Kenyan officials.
Their bribery scheme was frustrated in 2017 when the brothers were expelled from Kenya, and DEA agents took them to the United States for prosecution. The DEA praised the work of its Kenyan law enforcement counterparts and the government of Kenya.
On October 24, 2018, Baktash and Ibrahim Akasha pled guilty in a United States Federal Court to conspiring to import and importing heroin and methamphetamine, conspiring to use and carry machine guns and destructive devices in connection with their drug-trafficking crimes, and obstructing justice. In August 2019, Baktash was convicted to 25 years in prison. In January 2020, his brother Ibrahim received a sentence of 23 years in prison.
United States of America
KenyaThe cooperation measures entailed a covert operation under the direction of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
The defendants Baktash Akasha Abdalla and Ibrahim Akasha Abdalla filed motions to compel the US government to produce documents in relation to their extradition, contended a violation of the extradition treaty between Kenya and the United States and contested the jurisdiction of the court. The claims were dismissed by the court. In October 2018, the Akasha brotheres, Baktash Akasha Abdalla and Ibrahim Akasha Abdalla, entered a guilty plea. The first was sentenced on 16 August 2019, the latter on 10 January 2020.
Hafeez was provisionally arrested in London in August 2017, and the United States has requested his extradition from the United Kingdom. Further information about extradition proceedings against him was not available at the time of writing.
21 U.S.C. §§ 812, 963, 959(a), 960(a)(3), and 960(b)(1)(A)
Conspiring to manufacture and distribute heroin, knowing and intending that it would be imported into the United States
21 U.S.C. §§ 812, 963, 959(a), 960(a)(3), and 960(b)(1)(H)
Conspiring to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, knowing and intending that it would be imported into the United States.
21 U.S.C. §§ 812, 959(a), 960(a)(3), and 960(b)(1)(A)
Distributing and aiding and abetting the distribution of heroin, knowing and intending that it would be imported into the United States.
21 U.S.C. §§ 812, 959(a), 960(a)(3), and 960(b)(1)(H)
Distributing and aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine, knowing and intending that it would be imported into the United States.
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(o), 924(c)(1)(A)(i), and 924(c)(1)(B)(ii)
Conspiring to use and carry firearms during and in relation to the offenses charged in Counts One through Four; and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the offenses charged in Counts One through Four and possessing and brandishing firearms in furtherance of the same offenses.
18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(2)
Conspiring to obstruct, influence, and impede an official proceeding.
21 U.S.C. §§ 812, 963, 959(a), 960(a)(3), and 960(b)(1)(A)
Conspiring to manufacture and distribute heroin, knowing and intending that it would be imported into the United States.
21 U.S.C. §§ 812, 963, 959(a), 960(a)(3), and 960(b)(1)(H)
Conspiring to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, knowing and intending that it would be imported into the United States.
21 U.S.C. §§ 812, 959(a), 960(a)(3), and 960(b)(1)(A)
Distributing and aiding and abetting the distribution of heroin, knowing and intending that it would be imported into the United States.
21 U.S.C. §§ 812, 959(a), 960(a)(3), and 960(b)(1)(H)
Distributing and aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine, knowing and intending that it would be imported into the United States.
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(o), 924(c)(1)(A)(i), and 924(c)(1)(B)(ii)
Conspiring to use and carry firearms during and in relation to the offenses charged in Counts One through Four; and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the offenses charged in Counts One through Four and possessing and brandishing firearms in furtherance of the same offenses.
18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(2)
Conspiring to obstruct, influence, and impede an official proceeding.
21 U.S.C. §§ 812, 963, 959(a), 960(a)(3), and 960(b)(1)(A)
Conspiring to manufacture and distribute heroin, knowing and intending that it would be imported into the United States.
No information was available on whether the defendant was found guilty of his charge at the time of writing.
21 U.S.C. §§ 812, 963, 959(a), 960(a)(3), and 960(b)(1)(H)
Conspiring to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, knowing and intending that it would be imported into the United States.
No information was available on whether the defendant was found guilty of his charge at the time of writing.
21 U.S.C. §§ 812, 959(a), 960(a)(3), and 960(b)(1)(A)
Distributing and aiding and abetting the distribution of heroin, knowing and intending that it would be imported into the United States.
No information was available on whether the defendant was found guilty of his charge at the time of writing.
21 U.S.C. §§ 812, 959(a), 960(a)(3), and 960(b)(1)(H)
Distributing and aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine, knowing and intending that it would be imported into the United States.
No information was available on whether the defendant was found guilty of his charge at the time of writing.
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(o), 924(c)(1)(A)(i), and 924(c)(1)(B)(ii)
Conspiring to use and carry firearms during and in relation to the offenses charged in Counts One through Four; and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the offenses charged in Counts One through Four and possessing and brandishing firearms in furtherance of the same offenses.
No information was available on whether the defendant was found guilty of his charge at the time of writing.
18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(2)
Conspiring to obstruct, influence, and impede an official proceeding.
No information was available on whether the defendant was found guilty of his charge at the time of writing.
21 U.S.C. §§ 812, 963, 959(a), 960(a)(3), and 960(b)(1)(A)
Conspiring to manufacture and distribute heroin, knowing and intending that it would be imported into the United States.
No information was available on whether the defendant was found guilty of his charge at the time of writing.
21 U.S.C. §§ 812, 963, 959(a), 960(a)(3), and 960(b)(1)(H)
Conspiring to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, knowing and intending that it would be imported into the United States.
No information was available on whether the defendant was found guilty of his charge at the time of writing.
21 U.S.C. §§ 812, 959(a), 960(a)(3), and 960(b)(1)(A)
Distributing and aiding and abetting the distribution of heroin, knowing and intending that it would be imported into the United States.
No information was available on whether the defendant was found guilty of his charge at the time of writing.
21 U.S.C. §§ 812, 959(a), 960(a)(3), and 960(b)(1)(H)
Distributing and aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine, knowing and intending that it would be imported into the United States.
No information was available on whether the defendant was found guilty of his charge at the time of writing.
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(o), 924(c)(1)(A)(i), and 924(c)(1)(B)(ii)
Conspiring to use and carry firearms during and in relation to the offenses charged in Counts One through Four; and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the offenses charged in Counts One through Four and possessing and brandishing firearms in furtherance of the same offenses.
No information was available on whether the defendant was found guilty of his charge at the time of writing.
18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(2)
Conspiring to obstruct, influence, and impede an official proceeding.
No information was available on whether the defendant was found guilty of his charge at the time of writing.
21 U.S.C. §§ 812, 963, 959(a), 960(a)(3), and 960(b)(1)(A)
Conspiring to manufacture and distribute heroin, knowing and intending that it would be imported into the United States.
No information was available on whether the defendant was found guilty of his charge at the time of writing.
21 U.S.C. §§ 812, 963, 959(a), 960(a)(3), and 960(b)(1)(H)
Conspiring to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, knowing and intending that it would be imported into the United States.
No information was available on whether the defendant was found guilty of his charge at the time of writing.
21 U.S.C. §§ 812, 959(a), 960(a)(3), and 960(b)(1)(A)
Distributing and aiding and abetting the distribution of heroin, knowing and intending that it would be imported into the United States.
No information was available on whether the defendant was found guilty of his charge at the time of writing.
21 U.S.C. §§ 812, 959(a), 960(a)(3), and 960(b)(1)(H)
Distributing and aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine, knowing and intending that it would be imported into the United States.
No information was available on whether the defendant was found guilty of his charge at the time of writing.
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(o), 924(c)(1)(A)(i), and 924(c)(1)(B)(ii)
Conspiring to use and carry firearms during and in relation to the offenses charged in Counts One through Four; and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the offenses charged in Counts One through Four and possessing and brandishing firearms in furtherance of the same offenses.
No information was available on whether the defendant was found guilty of his charge at the time of writing.
18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(2)
Conspiring to obstruct, influence, and impede an official proceeding.
No information was available on whether the defendant was found guilty of his charge at the time of writing.
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
Guilty plea of Baktash Akasha Abdalla: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/press-release/file/1104336/download
Guilty plea of Ibrahim Akasha: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/press-release/file/1104331/download
