Detectives in Nairobi have seized 120 smartphones, 10 laptops, two tablets, 18 gas cylinders, and assorted mobile phone spare parts in a raid targeting suspected stolen property. The recovery was made by DCI officers from Makadara at the residence of a suspect, following intelligence on suspected stolen electronic devices and other goods. The suspect was arrested and placed in custody as detectives investigate the source and ownership of the recovered property.
Nairobi police boss Issa Mohamud said investigations were underway to establish how the items ended up at the house. "We are investigating how these gadgets and the other goods came to the house," he said. The recovered property is being processed as detectives work to establish its rightful owners and determine the circumstances under which it came into the suspect's possession.
The raid comes amid ongoing police operations targeting robbery and the theft of mobile phones in major urban areas. Police investigations show that much of the stolen property ends up in neighboring countries, while some items are refurbished and sold to unsuspecting buyers. Authorities have also been urging the public to avoid purchasing goods without official receipts as part of efforts to curb the trade in stolen property.
Police said some of the goods are stolen from victims, some of whom sustain serious injuries during robberies. The police are working to return the recovered property to its rightful owners. Meanwhile, two suspects are in police custody after officers in Busia intercepted a vehicle carrying 1.5 tonnes of uncustomed sugar allegedly smuggled into Kenya through an ungazetted route along the Kenya-Uganda border.
The suspects were arrested after officers from Busia Police Station stopped their Toyota Probox at the Velasco area within Busia Township. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 30 bags of sugar, each weighing 50 kilogrammes. Police said the sugar had been smuggled into the country through an unmanned entry point instead of a designated border crossing.
The vehicle and the consignment were taken to Busia Police Station, where they were booked as the two suspects underwent processing ahead of arraignment. The seizure comes as police intensify patrols along border points allegedly used by smugglers to evade taxation. Authorities said the operations are part of the National Police Service's wider crackdown on economic crimes.
Officials said smuggling remains prevalent in border areas despite ongoing operations to address the menace. The police are urging the public to report any suspicious activities and to purchase goods from authorized dealers. The recovered property and the seized sugar are being processed as the police continue to investigate the suspects and the source of the goods.
Key points
- Police recover 120 smartphones and other items in a raid targeting suspected stolen property in Nairobi.
- Two suspects are arrested with 1.5 tonnes of smuggled sugar in Busia.
- The police are working to curb the trade in stolen property and economic crimes.
