Two men suspected of belonging to a criminal gang have been arrested in Yamase, Migori County, after detectives intercepted a vehicle allegedly linked to a planned criminal operation along Nthiwa Road.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said its Operation Action Team acted on credible intelligence that a group of people suspected of carrying crude weapons was travelling in two vehicles along the route.
Detectives moved to intercept the vehicles and stopped a silver Toyota Voxy at Yamase. The occupants, identified as Hillary Odhiambo and James Oloo Otieno, were arrested.
In an X update on Sunday, the agency highlighted that a search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of five pangas and other crude weapons, which the DCI said were believed to have been intended for use in criminal activities.
Detectives have since launched efforts to identify and apprehend other members of the suspected group.
“Two men suspected to be members of a criminal gang have been arrested and five pangas recovered after detectives moved swiftly to foil a suspected criminal plot along the Nthiwa Road in Yamase, Migori County,” DCI said in a statement.
The arrests followed intelligence received by detectives about the suspected movement of an armed group in the area.
According to the DCI, the intelligence indicated that the group was travelling in two vehicles and was believed to be armed with crude weapons.
The agency said the information prompted detectives from the Operation Action Team to launch an immediate operation along the route.
The interception resulted in the arrest of the two men and the recovery of weapons from the Toyota Voxy.
The suspects and recovered weapons were subsequently taken into custody as detectives began processing the case.
The DCI said the two suspects are undergoing processing ahead of their arraignment in court.
The investigation has not ended with the two arrests.
Detectives are pursuing additional leads aimed at identifying and apprehending other individuals believed to have been part of the suspected group.
“Meanwhile, detectives are pursuing additional leads to trail down and arrest other persons believed to have been part of the group.”
The arrests come as security agencies continue operations targeting criminal gangs and individuals suspected of planning criminal activities across different parts of the country.
The DCI did not disclose the specific criminal activity the group was allegedly planning, or whether any incident had already occurred before the interception.
The agency urged members of the public to continue providing information that could assist investigators in preventing crime and apprehending suspects.
It reminded members of the public that information can be shared anonymously through its toll-free reporting channels.
The DCI provided the public with the toll-free number 0800 722 203 and WhatsApp number 0709 570 000 for reporting information anonymously.
The two suspects remain in custody as detectives continue investigations and pursue other individuals allegedly connected to the group.
The recovered pangas and other crude weapons are expected to form part of the evidence in the case as the investigation progresses.