US Indicts Kenyan, Three Others in Plot to Supply Weapons to Mexican Drug Cartel

A global investigation has uncovered a sophisticated arms trafficking ring, implicating a Kenyan national and three others in a conspiracy to supply military-grade weaponry to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), one of Mexico's most ruthless drug cartels. 

The indictment, unsealed in the United States, exposes a network spanning continents, raising concerns about the accessibility of dangerous weapons by criminal organisations and the expanding reach of cartel influence. Kenyan Elisha Odhiambo Asumo, finds himself at the centre of the alleged scheme, alongside Ugandan nationals Michael Katungi Mpeirwe and Peter Dimitrov Mirchev, as well as Tanzanian national Subiro Osmund Mwapinga. 

The four stand accused of plotting to deliver an arsenal including machine guns, rocket launchers, sniper rifles, grenades, anti-personnel mines, and anti-aircraft systems to the CJNG. Federal prosecutors contend that the individuals sought to exploit loopholes in international arms controls and falsify documentation to conceal the true destination of these deadly weapons. 

The CJNG’s designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation and Specially Designated Global Terrorist earlier this year only underscores the gravity of the situation. At the heart of the alleged conspiracy is Peter Dimitrov Mirchev, a Bulgarian national with previous connections to the infamous arms dealer Viktor Bout. Mirchev is accused of orchestrating the operation, meeting secretly with individuals believed to be representing the CJNG. The indictment alleges that Mirchev compiled a comprehensive weapons list, valued at a staggering €53.7 million, and coordinated logistics while actively seeking to evade law enforcement detection. 

He purportedly recruited Asumo, Mpeirwe, and Mwapinga to assist in obtaining fraudulent End-User Certificates (EUCs), which are crucial documents in international arms transfers. Prosecutors allege Asumo was responsible for securing an EUC from a compliant nation that would falsely claim a legitimate recipient for the arms. He then brought Mpeirwe into the plan, who in turn brought Mwapinga on board. 

Working together, the trio are said to have obtained an EUC from Tanzania, authorising the import of AK-47 assault rifles. This document allegedly facilitated a trial shipment of 50 AK-47s, complete with magazines and ammunition, which were exported from Bulgaria with the intention of eventually reaching the CJNG. The indictment further alleges that the conspiracy extended beyond small arms, encompassing more sophisticated weaponry such as surface-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft drones. 

The defendants allegedly planned to conceal the true end-user through falsified documentation, posing a significant threat to regional and international security. The implications of such weapons falling into the hands of a group like the CJNG are far-reaching, potentially destabilising entire regions and exacerbating violence. Mirchev was apprehended in Madrid, while Asumo was detained in Casablanca. Mwapinga was arrested in Accra and extradited to the United States. Mpeirwe currently remains at large, with authorities actively pursuing his capture. 

The Eastern District of Virginia is prosecuting the case, with Assistant US Attorneys Anthony T. Aminoff and Edgardo J. Rodriguez leading the charge. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Special Operations Division – Bilateral Investigations Unit spearheaded the investigation, receiving substantial support from the Hellenic National Police in Greece. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs played a crucial role in Mwapinga’s extradition, working closely with Ghanaian institutions. 

A conviction could result in a minimum sentence of 10 years, with the possibility of life imprisonment for each defendant. The precise sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge, considering US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.