Ugandan National Nabbed While Trying to Flee Kenya With 360 Allegedly Stolen Mobile Phones
- A 26-year-old Ugandan national found himself in trouble after the police found him in possession of 360 mobile phones
- According to Busia county police commander Ahmed Abdille, the suspect was attempting to flee the country through the Uganda-Kenya border
- Police identified 56 phones as stolen through snatching, pick-pocketing, or theft from areas including Kamukunji, Embakasi, and JKIA, with 13 victims already reporting their losses
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Faith Chandianya, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and Current Affairs in Kenya
Busia: A Ugandan man’s daring attempt to escape the country has landed him in hot water after he was caught at the Kenya-Uganda border with an astonishing haul of 360 mobile phones.
Source: Twitter
How was Ugandan suspect arrested?
Speaking on Wednesday, May 28, Busia county police commander Ahmed Abdille said the Ugandan man was intercepted by police officers following intelligence-led surveillance.
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He added that the 26-year-old suspect was attempting to leave the country.
"We wish to inform the public about a successful operation carried out by our officers at the Kenya-Uganda border that has led to the recovery of 360 phones," Abdille said.
The police boss further stated that among the phones recovered, some were new while others appeared used, raising suspicions that they had been stolen from various parts of the country.
"Fifty-six mobile phones have been positively identified as stolen, snatched, or pickpocketed from victims within Nairobi, including Kamukunji, Embakasi, Tassia, Riverside, Central Police Station, JKIA, and Kasarani. In Kiambu County, the phones are suspected to be from Juja, Thika, and Kiambu itself. In Nakuru County, we have Naivasha. These are where the victims are coming from," he added.
He said that 13 of the victims who lost their phones have already given statements at various police stations. Abdille added that the suspect is currently in custody to assist with the investigation.
"We are collaborating closely with all security agencies to uncover the full scope of the syndicate. I urge the public to remain vigilant when using their phones in public areas. Many of these phones are snatched on public transport, so it is advisable to avoid sitting near open windows," he said.
Six arrested in Nairobi as police recover 77 stolen phones
In a separate incident, police recovered 77 mobile phones and KSh 614,000 in cash believed to be proceeds from the sale of stolen phones in Nairobi’s central business district (CBD).
According to the police, the operation, carried out along Munyu and Mfangano streets, targeted criminal networks suspected of supporting phone theft syndicates in the city.
Regional commander George Sedah confirmed that the recovered items are valued at more than KSh 3 million.
Speaking at Nairobi Region Police Headquarters, Sedah explained the cash was seized from locations known to harbour phone receivers who buy stolen phones, reconfigure them, and resell them to unsuspecting buyers.
Source: Twitter
Six suspects were arrested. Police said most phone thieves operate on motorcycles, snatching phones from pedestrians before fleeing into traffic.
Sedah said the crackdown was ongoing, with a focus on dismantling larger theft networks and verifying the legitimacy of mobile repair shops operating in the CBD.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
