Police detain two suspects, recover stolen mobile phones in Runda

Two suspects believed to be part of a black-market network dealing in stolen mobile phones were arrested during a late-night intelligence-led operation in the Githogoro area of Runda, Nairobi.

The operation was conducted at around 8:37pm Thursday by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Operations Action Team (OAT) in collaboration with officers from DCI Gigiri and Runda Police Station.

Police said the raid followed credible intelligence linking a shop operating under the name E7 Cosmetics to the illegal trade in stolen mobile devices.

Acting on the information, the detectives moved in and found two men inside the shop who identified themselves as the proprietors. The suspects were later identified as Tobias Oduor and Nickson Indasia.

A search inside the premises uncovered a large cache of electronic devices suspected to be stolen. Officers recovered 65 mobile phones in working condition, seven laptops and 52 dismantled assorted mobile phones, indicating that the gadgets were either being resold or stripped for spare parts.

Police said the suspects failed to provide a satisfactory explanation regarding the ownership or source of the electronics recovered during the operation.

In a key breakthrough, investigators established that one of the recovered phones had earlier been violently snatched from a victim at Ruaka stage. The device was found in use by Oduor and was later positively identified by its rightful owner, a resident of Ruaka.

Detectives believe the discovery could help unravel a wider network involved in mobile phone theft and trafficking in the area.

All the recovered items were documented and secured as exhibits as investigations continue.

The two suspects are expected to be arraigned in court to face charges related to handling suspected stolen property. Police said further investigations are ongoing to identify other possible members of the suspected syndicate.

Police say there has been a surge in cases of mobile snatching in the city with the stolen gadgets being refurbished and shipped to neighgbouring countries for sale to unsuspecting buyers.

Some of the suspects have been arrested in operations staged in the past month alone which was also backed by the Interpol.