A Tanzanian couple, Pius Paskale Frugenze, 52, and his wife, Redempta Revelian Kuleta, 47, have been arrested in Mombasa, Kenya, on allegations of drugging passengers on long-distance buses and stealing their belongings. The arrests were made by Kenya's Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) following investigations into a suspected passenger drugging and theft operation. The couple is currently in police custody as investigations and other legal procedures continue.
The investigation began after an incident on September 18 involving a passenger traveling on a Dreamliner bus from Nairobi to Mombasa. The passenger allegedly received a substance from a person seated nearby, lost consciousness, and later discovered that a bag and other belongings were missing. The passenger regained consciousness at Tudor Sub-County Hospital. Detectives from Makupa Police Station launched investigations, followed forensic leads to Magongo, and arrested the two suspects.
A search of the suspects' residence led to the recovery of an HP laptop and an iPhone 17 Pro Max belonging to the complainant, as well as several mobile phones, 20 phone chargers, 10 wristwatches, 20 wallets, and various items of clothing suspected to have been stolen. Substances allegedly used to drug passengers were also recovered. The recovered items have been preserved as exhibits.
The DCI stated that the operation involved a form of crime commonly known in Kenya as "Mchele" or stupefying, in which victims are allegedly drugged before their belongings are stolen. This case highlights a security concern affecting passengers traveling on long-distance routes linking Kenya, Tanzania, and other parts of the region.
This is not an isolated incident, as similar cases have been reported in the past. In September 2025, Kenyan detectives arrested a suspect who was allegedly wanted in connection with the drugging and robbery of passengers traveling on buses to Mombasa, Kisumu, and neighboring countries. The suspect was arrested aboard a bus at the Mariakani weighbridge.
Incidents involving passengers being drugged and robbed have also been reported in Tanzania, including in Mara, Mwanza, Lindi, Shinyanga, Dar es Salaam, and Kilimanjaro. The latest case underscores the cross-border nature of crimes targeting passengers on regional bus routes, where investigations may require cooperation between law enforcement agencies in different countries.
The two Tanzanian suspects are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a court of law. The DCI said the suspects remain in police custody while investigations continue. The case highlights the need for increased vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement agencies to combat such crimes.
Key points
- The suspects, a Tanzanian couple, were arrested in Mombasa, Kenya, for allegedly drugging bus passengers and stealing their belongings.
- The investigation involved a cross-border operation, highlighting the need for cooperation between law enforcement agencies in different countries.
- Similar incidents of passengers being drugged and robbed have been reported in Tanzania and other parts of the region.
