NAIROBI – Kenya’s National Police Service has signed a formal agreement with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to tighten the grip on drug trafficking and international crime networks operating across borders. The pact was sealed through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Nairobi, witnessed by Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and DEA Special Agent in Charge for Africa and the Middle East Jason Schumacher.
Under the new agreement, the two agencies committed to collaborate more closely in enforcing anti-narcotics laws, disrupting drug cartels, and targeting criminal syndicates involved in cross-border money laundering and organized crime.
“This partnership will enhance our operational coordination and information sharing as we continue to fight the drug menace,” said IG Douglas Kanja, adding that the deal supports Kenya’s broader national security goals.
The MoU outlines structured cooperation on intelligence exchange, joint investigations, and coordinated field operations aimed at dismantling drug supply chains in Kenya and beyond.
Schumacher, who was joined by DEA officials Karl Ash, Mathias Walls, and Scott Jenkins, affirmed the agency’s support in building Kenya’s investigative and forensic capacity to tackle evolving threats. “Transnational drug crime remains one of the major security challenges across the region,” Schumacher said. “This agreement strengthens our shared mission to safeguard communities.”
The move comes as authorities intensify crackdowns on drug shipments, particularly along key transit points in the Indian Ocean and porous land borders. Earlier this year, Kenyan security forces seized narcotics valued at over KSh450 million in separate operations across coastal and northern regions.
The collaboration is expected to boost Kenya’s readiness to counter high-level drug smuggling operations while enhancing the ability of law enforcement officers to track financial flows connected to criminal enterprises.
According to law enforcement reports, syndicates have increasingly used complex networks and digital platforms to mask transactions and logistics in drug trafficking, complicating enforcement efforts.
The MoU with the DEA marks a new step in Kenya’s push to modernize its response to organized crime and secure international support in investigations that cut across jurisdictions.
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