Three plead not guilty to alleged cross-border trafficking of minor

Three suspects accused of involvement in a transnational human trafficking and extortion syndicate have pleaded not guilty before the Kahawa Law Courts. Abdirahman Dagane Ahmed, Abdisamed Abukar Abdullahi and Abdifatah Abdi Elmi are facing charges linked to an alleged cross-border operation involving the abduction and trafficking of a minor for ransom. According to prosecution documents, the trio allegedly abducted a 16-year-old boy from Nairobi’s Eastleigh area before trafficking him through South Sudan and into war-torn Libya, where they allegedly sought to extort a hefty ransom from his family. The prosecution and the victim’s family have opposed the suspects’ release on bond, arguing that they pose a flight risk and could interfere with key witnesses. Senior Principal Magistrate Njeri Thuku ordered the suspects to remain in custody until November 9, 2026, when the court is expected to rule on their bail applications after receiving a comprehensive pre-bail report.