Police bust Kenya-Tanzania electronics theft ring in Mombasa
Police yellow tape at a crime scene.
Police in Mombasa have busted a suspected cross-border electronics theft and smuggling ring operating between Kenya and Tanzania.
A man who was found with both Kenyan and Tanzanian identification documents is in police custody following a security operation that led to the recovery of stolen valuables.
The suspect, identified as Pascal Ibrahim, was arraigned on Tuesday, and police were granted five days to detain him as they conclude their investigations.
According to Mvita Sub-County Police Commander Mr Nicholas Chalulot, the suspect was arrested following an intelligence-led operation after weeks of surveillance on the gang that has been terrorising unsuspecting residents in the port city.
“We raided his hideout and when we arrested him, we recovered some of the stolen items. He is a notorious cross-border criminal and has a Kenyan identity card and a Tanzanian passport,” he said.
According to police, the gang has perfected a tactic of mostly targeting women walking alone or travelling in moving vehicles or tuk-tuks, especially in secluded areas. The attackers reportedly snatch handbags, mobile phones and jewellery before escaping on motorcycles.
Investigators believe the suspect is part of a larger, well-organised cross-border network operating between Kenya and Tanzania. Police suspect the gang members use dual national identities to evade detection and cross borders easily after carrying out robberies and selling the stolen goods.
Police also believe some members of the gang live on the outskirts of Mombasa Island and only travel into the Central Business District (CBD) to carry out attacks.
“I want to thank the security agencies in Mombasa for the teamwork which has led to the successful operation. I urge them to continue with the same spirit. I also want to urge residents to provide information to security teams so that we can have a peaceful Mombasa,” said Mr Chalulot.
Police said they had been tracking the gang for some time following numerous complaints from residents. They have also urged victims of theft to come forward and help identify recovered belongings.
The arrest has shed light on a growing trend of motorcycle-enabled street robberies in Mombasa, with Nyali, Bamburi, Likoni, Kisauni and the CBD areas identified as hotspots, particularly during the early morning and evening hours.
The suspect will remain in custody as detectives pursue his accomplices, who are still at large. Police are also working with Tanzanian authorities to establish whether the gang is linked to similar robberies across the border.
A motorcycle believed to have been used in the robberies has also been impounded and taken to the Urban police station. Residents have also been urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity involving motorcycle riders, particularly those operating in pairs.
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