Malawi: Notorious Human Trafficking Kingpin Extradited From Malawi to Face Trial in Ethiopia

What the report says

AllAfrica, carrying a report from the Ethiopian News Agency, reported that Ethiopian Federal Police have taken custody of Adnew Bashaw, described by authorities as an alleged human trafficking ringleader, after his arrest in Malawi. The transfer took place on July 29, 2026, following cooperation among Ethiopian police, Interpol and Malawian law enforcement. Ethiopian authorities say he is expected to face trial in Ethiopia.

According to the report, police allege Adnew and associates ran a trafficking network that recruited vulnerable Ethiopians, especially young people from Central Ethiopia Regional State, including Hadiya and Kembata zones. Investigators cited witness accounts and documents alleging victims were promised well-paid work and a better future, then moved along irregular routes toward South Africa. Police records cited by ENA allege the network demanded 600,000 to 800,000 birr from each victim, including an initial non-refundable payment of at least 100,000 birr through local bank accounts.

The ENA report says victims were routed through Moyale into Kenya, hidden in forest areas, forced across desert terrain, detained in Nairobi safehouses and subjected to violence to pressure families for further payments. It also says some migrants were later transported toward Mombasa and Tanzania, with many failing to reach South Africa and instead being arrested, imprisoned, fined or deported from transit countries.

Ethiopian Federal Police said the case followed a multi-year intelligence effort that began in 2022/23 with international partners. The reported extradition matters because it points to cross-border enforcement against trafficking networks that exploit migration pressures between East and Southern Africa, while the allegations remain for Ethiopian courts to test.