Kenyan risks jail in USA for trade in heroin, ivory, horns

A Kenyan risks being jailed for life in the United States after he pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute “a large quantity of heroin” to a buyer based in the US.

Mansur Mohamed Surur, alias Mansour, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic in rhinoceros horns and elephant ivory, in a Federal Court in Manhattan, New York

The offence could attract a separate five-year jail sentence.

Surur is said to have been part of an international conspiracy responsible for slaughter of more than 100 elephants and dozens of rhinos. According to federal prosecutors in New York, the amount is estimated to be about Sh740 million (USD7.4 million), amassed over seven years.

Surur was arrested in 2020 in Mombasa and extradited to the US to face trial. He also faced charges of money laundering and drug dealing.

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, on Wednesday announced that Surur had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic rhino horns and elephant ivory, both endangered wildlife species.

This involved illegal poaching of more than 35 rhinos and over 100 elephants.

Surur also pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute heroin to a US buyer.

Two of Surur’s co-accused, Moazu Kromah (aka Ayoub, Ayuba or Kampala Man), a citizen of Liberia; and Amara Cherif (aka Bamba Issiaka), a citizen of Guinea, pleaded guilty on March 30, 2022, and April 27, 2022, respectively, to conspiring to traffic rhino horns and elephant ivory, as well as trafficking rhino horns.

The remaining defendants, Badru Abdul Aziz Saleh (aka Badro) and Abdi Hussein Ahmed (aka Abu Khadi), are both Kenyans. Saleh is in custody in Kenya pending  a US extradition request, while Ahmed is a fugitive. Last week, the US Department of State offered a reward of up to Sh116 million for information leading to his arrest.

According to the charge sheet and other documents filed in the case, as well as statements made during the plea and other proceedings, the three were members of a transnational criminal group (dubbed the “Enterprise”) based in Uganda and surrounding countries that was engaged in large-scale trafficking and smuggling of rhinoceros horns and elephant ivory.

Trade in endangered or threatened species violates several US laws, as well as international treaties implemented by the US. From about December 2012 to about May 2019, the three and others conspired to transport, distribute, sell, and smuggle approximately 190kg of rhinoceros horns and about 10 tonnes of elephant ivory.

Stolen from East Africa

These were from, or involving, various countries in East Africa, including Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Kenya, Mozambique, Senegal, and Tanzania. The buyers were located in the United States and countries in south-east Asia. Such horns and ivory are estimated to have been involved illegal poaching of more than 35 rhinoceros and about 100 elephants.

The estimated retail value of the rhino horns was at least Sh34 million, while the estimated retail value of the ivory was Sh400 million.

The court said the accused exported and agreed to export the horns and ivory to foreign buyers, including a person in Manhattan, in concealed packages inside African masks and statues.

They received and deposited payments through international wire transfers, some through US financial institutions, and paid in cash.

On or about March 16, 2018, law enforcers intercepted a package containing a black rhinoceros horn sold by the defendants. It was intended for a buyer in Manhattan.

From March-May 2018, they offered to sell additional rhinoceros horns of varying weights, some up to 7kg.

From August 2018 to about May 2019, Surur conspired with others to distribute and possess a large quantity of heroin to a buyer in New York. Kromah previously was expelled to the US from Uganda, while Cherif and Surur were extradited from Senegal and Kenya, respectively. They have been detained in the US since their arrival.

Kromah, 52; Cherif, 57; and Surur, 62; each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wildlife trafficking — which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

Surur also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 1kg, or more, of heroin, which has a maximum sentence of life in prison.

In addition, Kromah and Cherif pleaded to wildlife trafficking, each with a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the US’s Fish and Wildlife Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration. He thanked law enforcement authorities and conservation partners in Uganda and Kenya, including the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the Uganda Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, the Uganda Police Force, the Kenya Directorate of Criminal Investigations, and the Kenyan Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, for their assistance in this investigation.

Around July 17, 2018, law enforcers intercepted a package containing two rhinoceros horns sold by the suspects and intended for a buyer represented to be in Manhattan.