Nationwide DCI Operation Nets 29 Suspects and Goods Worth KSh62.7 Million

A coordinated police operation targeting organised criminal networks has resulted in 29 arrests, the recovery of dozens of Kenyan passports and the rescue of seven people suspected to have been caught up in human trafficking. The three-day exercise also saw detectives seize suspected illegal products valued at KSh62.7 million across seven regions.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the operation, known as Usalama XII, was designed to disrupt activities involving counterfeit merchandise, illegal alcohol, smuggled cigarettes, fake medicines and suspected human trafficking networks.

Detectives also checked 198 vehicles against INTERPOL records to establish whether any were associated with criminal activities.

Detectives Investigate Recruitment Agency

In Westlands, Nairobi, officers arrested a suspect at a recruitment firm accused of operating without the required licence. A search of the premises led to the discovery of 85 Kenyan passports, work visas and employment contracts, prompting investigations into the agency’s operations and the circumstances in which the documents were held.

Three girls suspected of sexual exploitation were also rescued during a separate operation in Roysambu. In Gilgil, Nakuru County, detectives intercepted four Somali nationals believed to be potential trafficking victims, including two minors.

The DCI said the cases formed part of the wider effort to identify and disrupt networks suspected of exploiting vulnerable people.

Smuggled Cigarettes and Counterfeit Products Seized

Authorities also arrested a suspect allegedly transporting 90,000 sticks of smuggled cigarettes worth about KSh2 million in Gilgil. Excise stamps were among the items recovered during the operation.

In Nairobi, detectives seized a range of goods suspected to be counterfeit, including 3,991 adapters carrying Samsung and iPhone branding, 1,963 football jerseys, Adidas-branded balls, beauty products, vehicle components and lubricants.

A search at an unlicensed clinic in Kayole resulted in the recovery of suspected falsified medicines and medical supplies believed to have been diverted from authorised channels. Meanwhile, officers from the National Anti-Narcotics Investigations Bureau seized bottles containing suspected psychotropic substances from a pharmacy in Eastleigh for laboratory analysis.

Other items recovered during the crackdown included suspected counterfeit storage devices and footwear.

According to the DCI, the operation was coordinated by its headquarters and the National Central Bureau, with support from investigative agencies, regulators, brand owners and local police units. Further investigations are expected to determine the origins of the seized goods and establish the suspected offences linked to the arrests.