Police recover 73 phones/NPS
Two suspects have been arrested in Bungoma County after detectives uncovered a suspected mobile phone theft and cybercrime syndicate operating in Kimilili Town.
The National Police Service (NPS) said the operation led to the recovery of 73 mobile phones believed to have been stolen from members of the public.
The arrests followed weeks of investigations into mobile phone theft and related cyber-enabled crimes, culminating in a raid on the suspects’ shop in Kimilili Town.
“Preliminary investigations suggest that the two are part of a wider criminal network involved in the theft, reprogramming, and illicit resale of stolen mobile phones within the county,” NPS said in a statement.
Officers also seized equipment believed to have been used to flash mobile phones, a process associated with altering or reconfiguring a device’s software to conceal its identity or enable resale after theft.
Police said the recovered equipment is believed to have facilitated the syndicate’s activities.
The two suspects remain in police custody pending arraignment in court.
Meanwhile, detectives have launched a manhunt for other individuals believed to be linked to the network as investigations continue.
“The suspects are currently in police custody pending arraignment, while officers pursue further leads to identify and apprehend other members of the criminal network,” the statement added.
Authorities said the operation highlights growing concern over organised mobile phone theft syndicates that steal devices and later tamper with them before resale on the black market, making recovery difficult for owners.
Police said such networks often rely on specialised software and equipment to bypass security features, erase user data and change device identifiers before reselling the phones.
The National Police Service urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to security agencies.
NPS also called for information that could assist in tracking down additional suspects and disrupting similar criminal operations.
The latest operation comes weeks after detectives in Kisii County recovered hundreds of suspected stolen mobile phones in a separate crackdown on an alleged phone theft syndicate operating in Kisii Township.
In a statement, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said officers from Kisii Central Police Station, working with officials from a mobile device financing company, carried out a raid after arresting a suspect believed to be linked to the illegal trade.
The agency said 289 mobile phones suspected to have been stolen from victims across the country were recovered.
“Detectives from Kisii Central, alongside officers from M-KOPA Kenya Limited, recovered hundreds of suspected stolen mobile phones during a meticulously coordinated raid,” DCI said.
During the raid, officers recovered 56 smartphones linked to the financing company and 233 assorted mobile phones of different brands and models.
One suspect was arrested.
