Two suspected members of a criminal syndicate dealing in stolen mobile phones have been arrested following a carefully coordinated intelligence-led operation in the Githogoro area of Runda.
The late-night operation was carried out by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Operations Action Team in collaboration with officers from DCI Gigiri and colleagues from the Kenya Police Service based at Runda Police Station.
Acting on credible intelligence about a black-market network suspected of receiving and trading stolen mobile devices, the officers discreetly mobilized and descended on a shop operating under the name “E7 Cosmetics” in Githogoro within the affluent Runda area.
Detectives arrest two suspects in Runda stolen phone operation crackdown. Photo: Courtesy.
Inside the premises, detectives found two adult males who identified themselves as the proprietors of the shop and were later identified as Tobias Oduor and Nickson Indasia.
What initially appeared to be a normal cosmetics business quickly unraveled into a suspected hub for illegal electronics trade after a meticulous search uncovered a large stash of suspected stolen gadgets.
The haul included 65 serviceable mobile phones, seven laptops, and 52 dismantled assorted mobile phones, suggesting that the operation may have involved reselling stolen devices or stripping them for spare parts.
During the operation, detectives made a significant breakthrough when one of the recovered phones was positively identified as a device that had earlier been violently snatched from a victim at Ruaka stage.
The phone was found actively being used by one of the suspects, Tobias Oduor, and was later conclusively identified by its rightful owner, a resident of Ruaka.
Investigators believe this discovery provides a crucial link connecting the suspects to a wider network of mobile phone theft incidents reported within Nairobi and its surrounding areas.
When questioned about the recovered electronics, the suspects reportedly failed to provide any credible explanation regarding the ownership or source of the devices, further heightening suspicions that the premises served as a conduit for the disposal of stolen property.
All recovered items have since been carefully documented and secured through a formal inventory process as investigations continue to establish the full extent of the suspected criminal enterprise.
The two suspects remain in police custody and are expected to be arraigned in court to face appropriate charges related to possession and handling of suspected stolen property.
The successful operation highlights the ongoing efforts by the DCI to dismantle criminal syndicates that target unsuspecting members of the public.
Authorities have urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities that may help in the fight against crime.
