A court in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, has decided to extradite Former Afghan Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Zahir Qadir, to the United States on charges of drug and arms trafficking.

Omega Ochieng, Qadir's lawyer, announced on Tuesday, May apean13, that the legal team intends to file a suspension request for the ruling within the next 14 days and will appeal the court's decision. This announcement came after the final ruling to extradite Qadir to the U.S. was issued.

According to a BBC report, Qadir appeared to be distressed when the verdict was announced in court, where journalists were present in Nairobi, but he remained silent and did not make any statements. The session ended without further comments from him.

The Nairobi Times reported that the Milimani Court in Nairobi had kept Qadir in detention due to the“flight risk” until his extradition to the U.S. is carried out, and this condition will remain in effect until the execution of the ruling.

Qadir, who was arrested in Nairobi about a month ago, is accused of trafficking drugs and weapons into the United States. However, his lawyer informed the media that Qadir had traveled to Kenya for business purposes and intended to return to Afghanistan.

It is worth noting that Qadir's arrest was made at the request of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) based on a warrant issued by a New York court on March 25, 2025. According to the latest decision from the Kenyan court, he will be transferred to the U.S. within the next 14 days.

This legal process underscores the ongoing international cooperation in addressing global issues such as drug trafficking and organized crime. The extradition of Zahir Qadir, a former Afghan official, highlights the role of countries like Kenya in enforcing international law and facilitating justice across borders. The case also brings attention to the broader efforts of international law enforcement agencies such as the DEA in curbing illegal trafficking activities.

The outcome of this case will likely have significant implications not only for the diplomatic relations between Afghanistan, Kenya, and the United States but also for the broader international community's approach to combating transnational crime. As the legal process unfolds, it will be essential to monitor the impact of this case on future extradition agreements and international cooperation in the fight against illicit activities such as drug trafficking and arms smuggling.

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