Lebanese national facing narcoterrorism charges in US to be held for one week
Wadad arrived in the country yesterday at 11.45pm on board Qatar Airlines and he was arrested at the Windsor Hotel
A Nairobi court has granted orders of detention to a foreign national pending the filing, hearing and determination of the extradition to his country to face charges for the offence of conspiracy to commit narcoterrorism.
Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina ordered that Antonie Kassis alias Tony Wadad, a Lebanese national, be detained in custody for eight days to pave way the conclusion of investigations pending the hearing of an application seeking to extradite him to face charges in the United States.
While admitting the application which was dated yesterday, February 26, the magistrate stated that “the application for the continued detention of the respondent is hereby allowed as sought by the prosecution and the respondent herein will remain in custody for eight days from today.”
Onyina further directed that Wadad be detained in the custody of Anti-Narcotic Police Unit until March 6.
Further, he directed that he be allowed to communicate with his relatives and his country’s embassy when he needs to do so.
In an affidavit, the investigating officer Fred Makokha indicated that Wadad together with his accomplices who are still at large are needed to face charges for the offences of conspiracy to commit narcoterrorism under Section 21 of the United States Code and money laundering under the Section 18 of USC.
Wadad was indicted by the United States District Court, which issued an international warrant of arrest against him and his accomplices who are still at large, vide case no. 1:25-MJ-30 dated February 4, 2025.
Lebanese national Antonie Kassis in the dock during the hearing of application seeking his detention. Photo: Gidraph Mwangi
On the basis of the indictment, Interpol issued a Red Notice no. 2025/15868 dated February 26, 2025, against Wadad and other red notices against his accomplices.
The criminal complaint was attached with the affidavit of Merissa Schneider of the US Drugs Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Makokha told the court that, while the International Warrant of Arrest and the Red Notices were still in force against him, he arrived in the country yesterday at 11.45pm on board Qatar Airlines and he was arrested at the Windsor Hotel before being escorted and booked at Gigiri Police Station .
The police are seeking to extradite him to the United States of America as per the proceedings in compliance with the warrant issued.
Makokha had asked for more time to allow for the filing, hearing and determination of an application for for the extradition of Wadad to the US as requested and in accordance with Kenya’s obligations under both domestic and international laws.
