A week-long nationwide crackdown left criminal networks across the country reeling, following a coordinated multi-agency operation spearheaded by the DCI’s National Central Bureau and the Operations Directorate.
Among the recoveries made were elephant tusks and fake US dollars, police said.
In a show of unity and precision, officers from the National Police Service joined forces with multiple enforcement and state agencies, leading to major seizures of narcotics, counterfeit goods and several high-profile arrests.
Codenamed “Usalama XI,” the operation formed part of a joint regional initiative by the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization and the Southern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization.
Its mission is to disrupt serious transnational crimes, including motor vehicle theft, drug and human trafficking, wildlife crimes, terrorism, mineral smuggling, illicit arms trade and copper cable theft, police said.
For instance, in Lang’ata, detectives from the Transnational Organized Crimes Unit and the Anti-Narcotics Unit raided a residence in Royal Park estate on October 8, 2025, acting on intelligence that led to the discovery of counterfeit US currency valued at $31,700.
The suspect, Nanji Nabil Taj (32), was arrested on-site and escorted to DCI headquarters for further processing.
At the Coast, drug traffickers suffered a major blow when the joint team intercepted a Mercedes Benz truck en route from Mombasa to Nairobi.
Upon inspection at Mariakani police station, officers uncovered nine and a half sacks of cannabis sativa weighing 568.85kgs, with an estimated street value of Sh17 million.
The driver was arrested as both the truck and narcotics were seized as exhibits.
In Eldoret, detectives dismantled a digital piracy operation run by a suspect linked to the illegal sale and installation of pirated WAKA Internet Streaming and IPTV services.
The raid yielded two mobile phones, 135 advertising flyers and the WAKA TV pirate control panel, through which detectives disconnected 64 unauthorised subscribers.
Meanwhile, in a separate wildlife trafficking operation, two suspects were arrested on October 6, 2025, in the Shalom area along Mombasa road, found in possession of five elephant tusks valued at approximately Sh7.8 million.
They were processed at the Kenya Wildlife Service headquarters before being booked at Lang’ata police station pending arraignment.
Elephant tusks continue to attract huge market despite operations to contain the poaching menace.
They fetch a fortune in the black market as a surge in demand for ivory in the East continues to fuel the illicit trade, especially from Africa.
Officials say despite a ban on the international trade in ivory, African elephants are still being poached in large numbers.
As part of efforts to stop the menace, Kenya has started using high-tech surveillance equipment, including drones, to track poachers and keep tabs on elephants and rhinos.
