Kenyan National Arrested in Morocco Over Links to Mexico’s Notorious Drug Cartel

Evidence of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel's (CJNG) growing footprint in East Africa is raising alarm, following the arrest of a Kenyan national linked to the notorious Mexican drug syndicate.

Elisha Odhiambo Asumo was detained in Marrakesh, Morocco, on 8 April 2025, following an Interpol diffusion notice. He is accused by US authorities of conspiring to import narcotics and possess firearms related to drug trafficking, charges which could result in life imprisonment. 

Mr Asumo is alleged to have facilitated international arms deals and supported CJNG's logistics between 2022 and 2024, arranging arms shipments using falsified end-user certificates, including documents linked to Tanzania. Investigators assert that Mr Asumo held meetings in South Africa with cartel operatives to establish supply routes. 

These developments follow a raid in September 2024 on a methamphetamine laboratory near Namanga, on the Kenya-Tanzania border. The facility was reportedly overseen by Israel Alvarado Vera, an ex-Mexican police officer and alleged CJNG affiliate. Mr Vera, who initially evaded capture, was later apprehended by Kenyan authorities, alongside a Kenyan woman and two Nigerian nationals. 

The operation has been linked to a broader network spanning Nigeria, South Africa, Gabon, Mexico, and Brazil. Intelligence suggests that the syndicate is controlled by a fugitive who was last tracked to Uganda. The growing influence of the CJNG, led by Nemesio Oseguera Ramos (“El Mencho”), is raising serious questions about the security of East Africa. The cartel, known for its violence, controls key Mexican ports and diversifies into methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine trafficking, as well as fuel theft and human smuggling. 

Its logistical capabilities enable global expansion, including the establishment of drug production hubs in Africa, exploiting Kenya’s strategic location and porous borders. The Mexican Embassy in Nairobi, whilst offering consular support for its citizens, has declined to comment on ongoing investigations, citing diplomatic sensitivities.