A major phone theft ring operating in Nairobi’s Central Business District has been brought down by police, with dozens of stolen devices and electronics recovered in a sting operation targeting suspected criminals involved in tampering with mobile phone identities.
Highlights:
- Key suspect Victor Kimani arrested while altering IMEI numbers.
- Two alleged accomplices apprehended at Intermark Business Centre.
- Over 70 stolen mobile devices and electronic items recovered.
- Suspects in custody as police wrap up investigations.
Main Story:
In a well-coordinated operation led by officers from Central Police Station, authorities have cracked down on a syndicate suspected of orchestrating rampant phone thefts in Nairobi’s CBD and nearby areas.
Victor Kimani, described as a central figure in the syndicate, was arrested in the city centre while allegedly modifying the IMEI numbers of stolen phones a common tactic used to mask the devices’ identities and resell them illegally
After his arrest, Kimani led detectives to Intermark Business Centre, a location now believed to have been a hub for stolen electronics. Two more suspects, Marvine Wangundo and Jeremiah Njoroge, were arrested at the site
Police recovered a trove of stolen tech, including:
- 36 Samsung phones
- 23 Vivo phones
- 2 Nokia phones
- 1 LG, 1 HMD, 1 Tecno, and 1 Motorola phone
- 6 M-Kopa Samsung and 2 M-Kopa Nokia devices
- 2 Vivo phone motherboards
- 2 Dell CPUs, 2 HP Elite CPUs, and a desktop computer
Many of the phones had been stripped of back covers, suggesting an ongoing process of repurposing and redistribution.
The three suspects remain in custody as police complete investigations ahead of their arraignment in court. Authorities are optimistic that the arrests will disrupt the wider network of phone theft and illegal resale operations in the city.
With more than just phones at stake, the fight against tech crime in Nairobi is far from over but this bust sends a strong message to the streets.
