The Directorate of Criminal Investigations Monday reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling organised immigration crime networks during a Counter Organised Immigration Crimes Team (COICT) engagement held in Moyale, Marsabit County.
The event was attended by the Deputy British High Commissioner to Kenya, Dr. Ed Barnett who led the British delegation, alongside senior officers from the National Police Service, partner agencies, and local community leaders.
The Director of Criminal Investigations, Mohamed Amin, was represented by the Commandant of the National Criminal Investigations Academy (NCIA), Ibrahim Jillo, Amin underscored the strategic importance of Moyale as a border town and gateway for legitimate trade, social interaction and economic opportunities, while cautioning against criminal networks that exploit cross-border movement for illegal gain.
“Moyale is far more than just a spot on a map; it is a gateway, a place where people, families, businesses and communities come together, interact and seek out genuine social and economic opportunities,” the Director stated.
He noted that the establishment of the Counter Organised Immigration Crimes Team marks a deliberate shift towards identifying, investigating and disrupting the wider criminal networks behind immigration-related offences rather than merely addressing isolated incidents.
“COICT is a deliberate initiative aimed at enhancing our ability to identify, investigate and disrupt organised immigration crime; it reflects a change from merely dealing with individual incidents to instead understanding and pursuing the wider criminal networks involved,” said Amin
He further called for enhanced collaboration among all agencies operating within the border region, emphasising that organised criminal groups thrive through coordination and that law enforcement responses must be equally interconnected.
Addressing officers attached to COICT, he urged them to uphold professionalism, integrity and accountability, reminding them that effective investigations are built on public trust and ethical conduct and also appealed to the people of Moyale to continue supporting law enforcement efforts by sharing information on suspicious activities, stressing that community trust remains a critical asset in combating organised crime
Barnett commended the growing partnership between the United Kingdom and Kenya in tackling organised immigration offences.
He noted that the collaboration would continue to promote human-rights-based approaches in supporting victims of immigration-related crimes while strengthening investigative efforts aimed at dismantling wider criminal networks operating across borders.
Dr. Barnett further reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s commitment to supporting the DCI and partner agencies in identifying, investigating and disrupting organised immigration crime syndicates that exploit vulnerable persons for profit.
Present during the occasion were the Director of Training and Research APS, Madam Bianca Nzioki, who represented the Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police Service, and the Deputy Director, Investigation Bureau at DCI George Kisaka, among other senior officers.
The visit culminated in an inspection of newly constructed facilities designated for COICT officers, a development expected to enhance operational efficiency and strengthen coordinated responses against organised immigration crime along the Kenya-Ethiopia border including engagement with the Moyale community.
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