Police in Kayole, Nairobi, have arrested two suspects and recovered 28 mobile phones and three laptops in an operation targeting the suspected trade in stolen property.
The National Police Service (NPS) said officers based at Soweto Police Station conducted the operation in Kayole Sub-County against individuals suspected of dealing in illicitly acquired goods.
In an NPS X update on Monday, the recovery comprised 10 functional mobile phones, 18 non-functional assorted phones and three laptops. The devices have been secured as exhibits as investigations continue.
The two suspects are being held at Soweto Police Station and are expected to undergo processing before being arraigned in court.
The NPS said the operation was part of efforts to disrupt criminal networks involved in the handling and sale of property believed to have been obtained through criminal activities.
“The National Police Service reiterates its commitment to continuing relentlessly with such targeted operations across the country in order to dismantle criminal networks dealing in stolen property.”
Police have not identified the suspects or provided details on the alleged owners of the recovered devices. Investigators are expected to establish where the phones and laptops came from and whether the suspects are connected to a wider network dealing in stolen electronics.
The latest recovery comes amid increased police operations targeting the theft and illegal trade of mobile phones and other electronic devices in Nairobi.
In July, detectives recovered 200 suspected stolen phones in Kasarani during an intelligence-led operation.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said 120 of the phones were intact, while 80 had already been dismantled. Investigators said the devices were believed to be linked to a wider network involved in stealing phones before selling or dismantling them for resale.
Earlier in January, a multi-agency operation in Nairobi led to the recovery of 150 mobile phones, 16 tablets and six laptops, with seven suspects arrested.
Investigators highlighted that some recovered phones had been flashed or factory-reset, while others had been dismantled and sold as spare parts.
Another operation later that month saw detectives recover more than 900 suspected stolen phones in Nairobi's Central Business District after intercepting packages allegedly destined for Uganda.
Police have previously warned that stolen phones can be altered to make them harder to trace before being sold to unsuspecting buyers. The DCI has also reported efforts to use forensic technology and information-sharing mechanisms to trace stolen electronic devices.
The NPS has urged members of the public to report suspicious activity to the nearest police station or through emergency numbers 999 and 911.
“We urge the public to continue reporting criminal or suspicious activity at the nearest police station or via the toll-free numbers 999 and 911.”
Members of the public can also provide information anonymously through the DCI's Fichua Kwa DCI platform on 0800 722 203 or via WhatsApp on 0709 570 000.
The suspects remain in custody as police continue investigations into the recovered property.