Five police officers who were trailing motor vehicle thieves were arrested and detained briefly in Tanzania’s Rombo area.
They were detained by Tanzanian police who responded to a distress call from a suspect who had been arrested in Tarakea Town over suspicion of being part of a cartel targeting and stealing vehicles in Kenya.
The incident happened Friday, May 24 afternoon, authorities said.
A team of five policemen from Buruburu police station had trailed and arrested a Kenyan man over cases of stealing motor vehicles which are sold in Tanzania.
Then suspect took them to where the cartel used to ship the stolen cars to Tanzania.
Using the unofficial route, the team said they mistakenly entered Tanzanian territory without their knowledge.
They were in the company of one Kenyan suspect of motor vehicle theft.
While in Tanzania, they arrested one Tanzanian in Tarakea town who raised an alarm.
Officers from Tarakea police station who were on patrol responded while armed and arrested the officers for the offence of being illegally present in Tanzania.
They tried to explain to the Tanzanian police that the suspect was wanted over claims he had been receiving stolen motor vehicles from Kenya in vain.
They were escorted to custody in the Rombo Mkuu area, officials said.
It was then the officers made a call to Kenya and the Kajiado South team in the company of their colleagues from Illasit started to negotiate for the release of the officers.
The Subcounty security intelligence met and asked for a meeting with the Tanzanian team.
Police headquarters said Deputy County Commissioner Anthony Macharia led the team to Tanzania and had a meeting with the Rombo District security committee which led to the release of the five officers.
The Kenyan suspect was also released to the security team though the Tanzanian suspect was not handed over to Kenya.
Police termed the move good but asked the wanted suspect to be handed over for questioning and prosecution.
The Kenyan suspect is being interrogated ahead of planned arraignment.
Police say dozens of vehicles are stolen in Kenya and driven to Tanzania where they are sold by a vicious cartel.
Some are recovered while others are cannibalised or changed in features.
The investigation is ongoing, police said.
