Seven Arrested as Police Recover 150 Stolen Devices in Nairobi Crackdown
Kenyan police have arrested at least seven suspects and recovered more than 150 electronic devices after dismantling a network accused of trafficking stolen gadgets across the Uganda border.
The operation was carried out on 23 January by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) following intelligence on the movement and resale of stolen mobile phones and other electronics. Investigators say the group focused on refurbishing stolen devices, deleting identifying data through factory resets, and transporting the items to informal markets in neighbouring countries.
DCI Director Mohamed Amin said many of the recovered devices had been altered, while others still contained personal information belonging to their original owners. He noted that some gadgets were dismantled and sold as spare parts, making it difficult to trace them to reported theft cases. Similar operations, he added, are being conducted in other parts of the country.
Among those arrested were two Ugandan nationals detained in Shauri Moyo. One suspect was found with 75 mobile phones and two laptops concealed in sealed boxes and is believed to have acted as a link between suppliers in Kenya and buyers in Uganda. A second Ugandan national was arrested in connection with the same network.
In a separate arrest, detectives detained a Kenyan trader operating along Ronald Ngala Street after recovering 16 tablets and 19 mobile phones from his shop. Police believe he coordinated the transportation of stolen devices using public service vehicles.
The operation also led to the arrest of a loader accused of discreetly placing stolen electronics onto vehicles driven by trusted operators. In Ngumba Estate, a woman was arrested with two mobile phones and two laptops, while a search of her shop uncovered 21 phone casings and related components.
Additional arrests included a suspect found with 46 mobile phones at his residence and another detained at a garage in Nairobi’s Industrial Area, where eight phones and a laptop were recovered. Authorities said all suspects will be charged in court as investigations continue into what they believe is a wider cross-border trafficking network.
Police say mobile phone theft remains a persistent problem in Nairobi, often linked to opportunistic snatchings by motorcycle riders and the rapid resale of stolen devices in informal markets. Investigators say the operation was aimed at disrupting the supply chain that supports the cross-border trade in stolen electronics by targeting both handlers and transporters.
They added that enforcement efforts will need to be supported by public awareness, improved device tracking, and closer regional cooperation.
