Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations conducted a major operation targeting organized phone theft syndicates within Nairobi city. Officers arrested two suspects along Charles Rubia Street near the busy Buscar bus stage on Monday.
Police identified the suspects as Brian Yomasia and Stephen Okwachi Shisia during the operation. Detectives intercepted them while attempting to transport over 900 stolen mobile phones to Uganda.
Investigators confirmed the phones belonged to a wider network involved in cross-border trafficking and organized criminal activity. DCI officers said intelligence gathering and surveillance led them directly to the suspects’ location.
The coordinated operation allowed detectives to intercept the consignment before it left Nairobi. Investigators reported that the suspects packaged the stolen phones inside sealed boxes for transportation.
Recovered devices included smartphones prepared specifically for illegal export across the border. Officers noted that many phones had been flashed or factory-reset to erase ownership details.
Some devices had been dismantled into spare parts to complicate tracing and identification. Investigators began immediate efforts to identify legitimate owners of the recovered phones.
The arrests followed an earlier operation involving seven additional suspects linked to the same syndicate. Those suspects included a Ugandan national believed to coordinate buyers across the border.
Detectives recovered 150 phones, 16 tablets, and six laptops during the previous operation. Investigators identified the Ugandan national as a key link between Nairobi receivers and buyers.
Officers later recovered 75 mobile phones and two laptops from the suspect’s residence. Investigators said the findings revealed a highly organized and coordinated criminal network.
Detectives stated the syndicate relied on informal markets and Public Service Vehicle operators for transportation. Officers warned that such networks enable large-scale theft and criminal profits.
Yomasia and Shisia face multiple charges including possession of stolen property and cross-border trafficking. Investigators continue pursuing additional suspects operating within Nairobi neighborhoods.
DCI officers said intelligence-led operations remain critical in dismantling mobile phone theft syndicates. Detectives emphasized the importance of public reporting in identifying suspicious phone sales.
Recovered devices varied in condition, complicating ownership verification and evidence documentation. Investigators stressed that careful cataloging ensures successful prosecution and victim restitution.
Officers confirmed authorities will return verified devices to rightful owners after investigations conclude. DCI reassured Nairobi residents that sustained enforcement operations will continue.
Investigators said further arrests remain likely as inquiries expand across Nairobi and neighboring counties. Officers described the seizure of over 900 phones as a major blow.
The DCI reaffirmed its commitment to combating mobile phone theft and cross-border trafficking. Authorities urged continued cooperation between communities and law enforcement agencies.
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