Skip to content
A three-day security operation targeting organised crime has led to the rescue of seven suspected human trafficking victims, the recovery of 85 Kenyan passports and the arrest of 29 suspects across the country. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) also reported seizing suspected illegal goods valued at KSh62.7 million during the operation.
The crackdown, conducted under the name Usalama XII, covered seven regions and focused on suspected trafficking networks, counterfeit merchandise, illicit alcohol, smuggled cigarettes, falsified medicines and other criminal activities.
According to the DCI, detectives carried out 198 vehicle checks against INTERPOL records as part of efforts to identify vehicles potentially connected to criminal activities.
Passports Found at Nairobi Recruitment Agency
One of the key discoveries was made in Westlands, Nairobi, where detectives arrested a suspect at a recruitment agency allegedly operating without a licence. Officers recovered 85 Kenyan passports, work visas and employment contracts from the premises as investigations began into the documents and the agency’s recruitment activities.
In another operation in Roysambu, Nairobi, three girls suspected of being victims of sexual exploitation were rescued.
Detectives also intercepted a group of four Somali nationals in Gilgil, Nakuru County, who were suspected to be victims of human trafficking. The group included two minors, according to the DCI account of the operation.
Cigarettes and Counterfeit Goods Seized
The operation also targeted suspected cigarette smuggling, with detectives arresting a suspect found transporting 90,000 sticks of cigarettes valued at approximately KSh2 million. Excise stamps were also recovered during the interception.
In Nairobi, officers seized suspected counterfeit consumer products, electrical accessories and automotive components worth millions of shillings. The recovered items included 3,991 adapters bearing Samsung and iPhone branding, 1,963 football jerseys, Adidas-branded balls, beauty products, vehicle spare parts and lubricants.
Elsewhere, detectives recovered suspected falsified pharmaceuticals and diverted medical supplies from an unlicensed clinic in Kayole. In Eastleigh, officers from the National Anti-Narcotics Investigations Bureau seized bottles containing substances suspected to be psychotropic drugs from a pharmacy for further analysis.
Additional suspected counterfeit storage devices and footwear were also recovered as authorities intensified efforts to disrupt the distribution of illegal goods.
The DCI said Usalama XII was coordinated by its headquarters and the National Central Bureau, with investigative agencies, regulators, brand owners and local police units participating in the operation. Investigations are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the recovered items and the activities of the arrested suspects.
About The Author
