DCI Uncovers Human Trafficking Case Involving Missing School Boy

The DCI has arrested a suspect involved in the trafficking of an 18-year-old male who disappeared four years ago. Efforts by the victim’s family to secure his release through a ransom were unsuccessful. The victim made contact from a hospital in Tunisia, revealing he had escaped from captivity in Libya. The suspect has been presented for prosecution, with court proceedings scheduled.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) revealed the arraignment of a human trafficker linked to the presumed case of an 18-year-old male, who had gone missing four years prior. The victim, a 14-year-old student at Mandera DEB Primary School when he disappeared in 2021, was discovered to have been trafficked to Libya.

Following the victim’s vanishing in 2021, his family endured a desperate search and later learned that he was being held captive in Libya. To secure his release, they allegedly remitted a ransom amounting to Ksh2.4 million to two individuals in Somalia, but their efforts were in vain.

“Upon his disappearance, his parents launched a desperate search for their son. Their worst fears were confirmed when they discovered that Ali Noor was being held captive in Libya. In a bid to secure his release, the family paid a ransom of Ksh2.35 million to two individuals,” stated the DCI. Additionally, they lamented, “Despite their immense sacrifice, the parents’ efforts proved futile, as their son remained in captivity.”

Eventually, on March 12, 2025, the victim reached out to his mother from a Tunisian hospital, revealing he had sustained injuries from being shot in both legs; however, details regarding the shooting remain undisclosed. He reportedly escaped alongside other captives in November 2023, including two fellow Kenyans from Mandera, and found refuge in Tunisia.

Following extensive investigations employing forensic intelligence, detectives from the Anti-Terrorist Police Unit (ATPU) apprehended the suspect linked to the trafficking. The DCI has not disclosed details regarding the suspect’s arrest or the status of the victim’s reunion with his family.

The suspect, identified as Bilal Shukri Ahmed, was presented in Mandera Law Courts on March 14, 2025, by officers from the ATPU. The case is scheduled for mention on April 4, 2025, after the prosecution obtained a 21-day custodial order. “Bilal Shukri Ahmed has today been presented for prosecution by officers from the Anti-Terrorist Police Unit (ATPU) based in Mandera for his involvement in the trafficking of Bilal Ali Noor, now 18, who vanished on February 21, 2021,” the DCI reported.

This case highlights the severe realities of human trafficking, emphasizing the struggles of families affected by such crimes. The victim’s four-year ordeal and the family’s desperate attempts to secure his release demonstrate the heart-wrenching impact of trafficking. The investigation leading to the suspect’s arrest illustrates the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat these heinous acts. Future court proceedings will determine the legal ramifications for those involved in this case.

Original Source: www.kenyans.co.ke