Two Arrested as Police Bust Suspected Mobile Phone Theft Syndicate in Bungoma
The latest arrests come weeks after Directorate of Criminal Investigations officers uncovered another suspected mobile phone theft syndicate in Kisii Township.
73 phones recovered by NPS: Photo/Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
Two suspects have been arrested in Bungoma County after detectives dismantled a suspected mobile phone theft and cybercrime syndicate operating in Kimilili Town, recovering 73 mobile phones believed to have been stolen from members of the public.
In a statement, the National Police Service said the arrests followed weeks of investigations into mobile phone theft and cyber-enabled crimes, culminating in a raid on a shop linked to the suspects.
Police said preliminary investigations indicate the suspects are part of a larger criminal network involved in stealing, reprogramming and illegally reselling mobile phones within the county.
“Preliminary investigations suggest that the two are part of a wider criminal network involved in the theft, reprogramming and illicit resale of stolen mobile phones within the county,” the National Police Service said.
During the operation, detectives also recovered equipment believed to have been used to flash mobile phones, a process that alters or reconfigures a device’s software to conceal its identity or prepare it for resale after theft.
Investigators believe the seized equipment played a central role in the syndicate’s operations by enabling stolen devices to bypass security features and making it more difficult for authorities to trace them.
The two suspects remain in police custody and are expected to be arraigned in court once investigations are complete.
Police have launched a manhunt for other individuals believed to be connected to the syndicate.
“The suspects are currently in police custody pending arraignment, while officers pursue further leads to identify and apprehend other members of the criminal network,” the statement said.
Authorities said the operation highlights the growing threat posed by organized mobile phone theft syndicates, which often use specialized software and equipment to erase user data, alter device identifiers and resell stolen phones on the black market.
The National Police Service urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities that could assist security agencies in dismantling similar criminal networks.
The latest arrests come weeks after Directorate of Criminal Investigations officers uncovered another suspected mobile phone theft syndicate in Kisii Township.
In that operation, detectives from Kisii Central Police Station, working with officials from M-KOPA Kenya, recovered 289 mobile phones suspected to have been stolen from victims across the country.
According to the DCI, the haul included 56 smartphones linked to M-KOPA Kenya and 233 other mobile phones of various brands and models, underscoring what investigators say is a growing nationwide trade in stolen mobile devices.
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