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Post Reply: Kenya Extradites Ivorian Ex-UN Staffer Wanted in US for Firearms Smuggling Conspiracy

<blockquote><div class="quotetitle">Quote from <a class="profile-link highlight-moderator" href="https://lawguide.co.ke/understanding-law/legal-forum/profile/lawyer/">Lawyer</a> on September 26, 2025, 7:33 am</div><div id="pl-8049"  class="panel-layout" ><div id="pg-8049-0"  class="panel-grid panel-no-style" ><div id="pgc-8049-0-0"  class="panel-grid-cell"  data-weight="1" ><div id="panel-8049-0-0-0" class="so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child" data-index="0" data-style="{&quot;background_image_attachment&quot;:false,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;,&quot;background_image_size&quot;:&quot;full&quot;,&quot;background_image_opacity&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;border_thickness&quot;:&quot;1px&quot;}" ><div
			
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	<p dir="ltr" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Kenyan authorities have successfully extradited Bile Jean Philippe Assemian, an Ivorian national and former United Nations staff member, to the United States, where he faces charges related to a conspiracy to smuggle firearms. The extradition follows a legal process that underscores Kenya's commitment to combating transnational crime and upholding international legal obligations.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Assemian was indicted by a Grand Jury in the US District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, on May 28, 2025. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in a scheme to illegally purchase and export firearms from the United States to Côte d'Ivoire between October and November 2018. The indictment prompted the issuance of an INTERPOL Red Notice, listing him as a fugitive wanted for prosecution.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The former UN staffer, who previously served at the United Nations Support Office in Mogadishu, Somalia, was arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport upon his arrival from Mogadishu. The US government formally requested his extradition on July 24, 2025, and the request was processed by Kenya's Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) through the Central Authority under the Office of the Attorney General and Department of Justice.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Court documents reveal that Assemian, along with his co-defendant Koffi Andrea Versaint Taregue and other individuals, conspired between November 2018 and October 2020 to acquire firearms classified as defense articles in the United States, primarily in Ohio and Maryland. The group allegedly intended to export these firearms to Côte d'Ivoire without obtaining the necessary licenses. To facilitate the illegal shipments, they concealed the firearms and their components inside large blue plastic barrels, mixed with household goods, and delivered them to an export company in the United States without declaring the contents.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Extradition hearings commenced in Nairobi on July 25, 2025. On September 3, 2025, the Nairobi Chief Magistrate's Court ruled in favor of extradition, paving the way for Assemian's transfer to US authorities. The handover marks the culmination of a collaborative effort between Kenyan and US law enforcement agencies.</p>
<p dir="ltr">This extradition highlights Kenya's dedication to fostering international cooperation in the fight against global crime. It also reinforces the country's role as a key partner in addressing illicit activities that cross borders, ensuring that fugitives face justice in accordance with international law.</p>
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