US Seeks Life Sentence for Kenyan Linked to Mexican Cartel Arms Trafficking

A 44-year-old Kenyan businessman faces possible life imprisonment in the United States following his arrest in Morocco over allegations of facilitating arms trafficking for one of Mexico’s most dangerous drug cartels.

Elisha Odhiambo Asumo was apprehended on April 8, 2025, in his Marrakesh hotel room after Moroccan authorities received an urgent Interpol “wanted man” diffusion document from the US government just a day earlier.

US authorities have connected Asumo to the notorious Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), which was designated as a terrorist organization by President Donald Trump in February.

The US intends to prosecute Asumo on two grave charges “conspiracy to aid and abet unlawful importation of narcotics” and “conspiracy to aid and abet possession of firearms in furtherance of drug importation conspiracy.”

Each charge carries a potential life sentence if proven.

US authorities allege that between September 2022 and December 2024, Asumo “conspired with others to provide firearms, including machineguns and destructive devices, to Mexico-based drug cartels for the purpose of protecting cocaine shipments into the US.”

Asumo allegedly created fraudulent end-user certificates (EUCs) to facilitate weapons purchases from Bulgaria destined for the Mexican cartel.

An EUC is a document provided by an arms purchaser to a seller, affirming that weapons purchased are for the buyer’s sole use and not intended for transfer to another party.

In October 2022, Asumo reportedly received $5,000 after preparing a fraudulent EUC supposedly from Tanzania that was used to facilitate a “test” shipment of 50 AK-47 rifles intended for the CJNG cartel.

Multinational operations

The investigation uncovered that Asumo participated in meetings with cartel representatives, including one in South Africa on March 27, 2023, where discussions centered on establishing a weapons business in Central America and using East Africa as a transshipment point for cocaine.

Following the success of the initial “test” shipment, Asumo and his co-conspirators allegedly began coordinating a massive arms deal valued at over 104 million Euros, which included AK-47M rifles, machine guns, grenade launchers, anti-personnel mines, sniper rifles, anti-tank weapons, an anti-aircraft weapons system, ammunition, and several drones.

US authorities intercepted the initial shipment of 50 AK-47 rifles in Greece in July 2024, though Asumo and his associates were reportedly unaware of the seizure and continued planning the larger operation.

At the time of his arrest, Asumo had in his possession an iPhone and various currencies totaling 70 UAE dirhams, 32 US dollars, and 20 Swiss francs.

Police also found four ATM cards in his wallet, including two from a Kenyan bank and another from a Kenyan microfinance institution.

Kenyan honorary consul to Morocco, Ali Bajaber, was promptly informed of the arrest.

Asumo did not oppose extradition to the United States, where he will face trial in the Eastern District of Virginia.