NAIROBI, Kenya — Abdul Zahir Qadeer, a former member of Afghanistan’s parliament, has been arrested in Nairobi at the request of the United States, according to a report by the Nairobi Times. His family has confirmed his arrest but provided no further details.
Citing court documents and officials, the Nairobi Times reported that Qadeer was apprehended last week at the City Hotel in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital. He had arrived in Nairobi six days earlier, on April 14, from Kabul via Qatar Airways, the report said.
A judge at the Milimani High Court has approved his detention and extradition to the United States. Qadeer is currently held under an order from the Milimani court, which found sufficient grounds to proceed with his extradition, pending further legal action.
According to court filings, a warrant for Qadeer’s arrest was issued on March 25, 2025, by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. He faces charges of conspiracy to import narcotics and possession of heavy weaponry, based on a criminal complaint filed by Nicholas DiFrancesco, a special agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
John Wafula, an investigator with Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations’ Anti-Narcotics Unit, testified that Qadeer posed a significant flight risk, citing his lack of a fixed residence in Kenya. Prosecutors argued that if released, Qadeer could flee to a country without an extradition treaty with the United States, jeopardizing the legal process.
The Nairobi Times reported that U.S. officials formally requested Qadeer’s extradition through a diplomatic note. Kenyan authorities emphasized that his continued detention is crucial not only for the extradition proceedings but also for efforts to identify and apprehend potential accomplices.
Family members of Qadeer have confirmed his detention, though they have not publicly commented on the charges.
A final decision on Qadeer’s extradition to the United States is expected in the coming days.
