A Nairobi Court has denied bail to Antoine Kassiss, a Lebanese national, pending his extradition to the United States, where he faces charges of narcoterrorism and money laundering.
The decision, handed down by Justice Alexander Muteti at the Milimani Law Courts, came after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions opposed the bail application, citing the gravity of the allegations against Kassiss and the need to enforce international legal obligations.
Kassiss, who was apprehended in Nairobi pursuant to a U.S. court-issued warrant, is accused of involvement in a conspiracy to commit narcoterrorism and money laundering—charges that could lead to severe penalties if he is convicted in the U.S.
The United States formally requested his extradition through Kenyan authorities, a process that began with the ODPP filing Miscellaneous Application No. E1025 of 2025 on March 18, 2025.
Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi, presiding over the initial extradition hearing, ruled that the application met the legal requirements under Kenya’s Extradition (Commonwealth Countries) Act of 1968, despite opposition from Kassiss’s legal team.
During the extradition proceedings, the Lebanese consented to being repatriated to the U.S. to face the charges.
However, he subsequently sought release on bond pending the transfer, a request that was firmly rejected by Justice Muteti.
The court directed that the extradition order be enforced, with the ODPP confirming that Kassiss will be handed over to U.S. authorities on May 21, 2025.
The ODPP, represented by prosecutors Vincent Monda and Victor Owiti, argued that granting bail would undermine the extradition process and the international cooperation required to combat transnational crimes like narcoterrorism.
“The suspect faces serious charges in the United States, and Kenya is committed to fulfilling its obligations under international law,” the ODPP stated.
The case underscores Kenya’s growing role in international efforts to tackle organized crime. The ODPP, established as an independent office under Article 157 of the Kenyan Constitution, operates through specialized departments, including one focused on Economic, International, and Emerging Crimes, which handled Kassiss’s case.
The department’s mandate includes prosecuting complex international cases, often in collaboration with foreign governments.
Kassiss’s case also draws parallels to other high-profile extraditions involving Kenya.
In 2021, Mansur Mohamed Surur, a Kenyan national, was extradited to the U.S. Southern District of New York to face charges related to a $7 million ivory trafficking operation tied to narcoterrorism.
Similarly, in 2022, a Colombian national, Melo, was extradited from Colombia to the U.S. through coordinated efforts with international authorities, highlighting a global trend of cross-border cooperation in combating such crimes.
The U.S. has intensified its focus on narcoterrorism in recent years, particularly targeting networks linked to organizations like Hezbollah. A 2024 case involving Kassim Tajideen, another Lebanese national tied to Hezbollah, saw him plead guilty to money laundering in the U.S. after his extradition in 2017.
Tajideen’s case, prosecuted by the Department of Justice’s Hezbollah Financing and Narcoterrorism Team (HFNT), reflects the same aggressive approach being applied to Kassiss.
The Extradition Act ensures that fugitives like Kassiss are not prosecuted for unrelated offenses in the requesting country unless specific conditions are met, providing a legal safeguard while facilitating cooperation with nations like the U.S.
