Dutch Citizen Accused of Smuggling Captured in Kenya and Extradited to The Netherlands to Face Charges

John Habeta, a Dutchman of Eritrean descent, was extradited from Kenya to The Netherlands on December 25, 2021 following his capture in an INTERPOL operation for the smuggling of African migrants, mostly Eritreans, into Europe.  The Dutchman’s capture and extradition come after a pursuit lasting for over four years, as INTERPOL has considered Habeta a wanted man since 2017.^[1]  In October 2020, Habeta was labeled a high priority target after multiple countries alerted INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau (NCB) in The Hague with new leads on his activities and whereabouts.^[2]