WHERE STOLEN PHONES GO

Police nab four dealers in stolen mobile phones

The DCI said the stolen phones were destined to the neighbouring country, Uganda.

In Summary
  • Detectives said the Ugandan, who was the first to be cornered, was found with a parcel containing 13 smartphones believed to be destined for the black market in Uganda.
  • The detectives from the elite Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau based at the DCI Nairobi Regional Command said they have cast their nets wider.
Some of the recovered smartphones believed to have been stolen in Nairobi and were destined for Uganda on October 13, 2023.
Some of the recovered smartphones believed to have been stolen in Nairobi and were destined for Uganda on October 13, 2023.
Image: DCI KENYA.

Four suspects linked to the rampant disappearance of mobile phones within Nairobi City were on Friday arrested by detectives.

An intelligence-led operation conducted by detectives within the city’s Central Business District arrested two Kenyans and two Ugandans.

Detectives said the Ugandan who was the first to be cornered was found with a parcel of 13 smartphones believed to be destined for the black market in Uganda.

The suspect, the DCI said, then led the sleuths to shop E17 located at Munyu Business Centre, where her accomplices were busy receiving other stolen mobile phones.

After a brief but detailed interrogation, the DCI said, the three arrested persons hurriedly led the detectives to a fourth suspect.

“The suspect was waiting for the package destined for Uganda at the Simba Coach bus station,” the DCI sad. 

The detectives from the elite Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau based at the DCI Nairobi Regional Command said they have cast their nets wider for more suspects.

The bureau believes this is an elaborate syndicate sneaking stolen mobile phones to neighbouring countries. 

The sleuths said mobile phone thugs have found it increasingly difficult to ply their trade in the country, owing to the state-of-the-art technology being deployed by the Kenyan cybercrime detectives based at the DCI National Forensic Laboratory, in arresting mobile phone thieves. 

Mobile phone thugs have found it increasingly difficult to ply their trade in the country, owing to the state-of-the-art technology being deployed by our Cybercrime detectives based at the DCI National Forensic Laboratory, in arresting mobile phone thieves.

Police have in the past charged those arrested with serious crimes including robbery violence and murder.

A major operation on the cartel is ongoing. Police have since appealed to those whose mobile phones may have been stolen or robbed to always report their cases.

Dozens of the gadgets are lying at the Central police station waiting for identification.

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