Police expose criminal network behind Nairobi's robbery wave

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

For weeks, residents of Nairobi's affluent estates have lived in fear as armed gangs struck with alarming precision before vanishing without a trace.

Now, police say they have uncovered one of the syndicate's most closely guarded secrets - that women were being used to transport firearms across the country because they attracted less suspicion.

The revelation follows an intelligence-led operation that police say dismantled a network linked to a string of armed robberies in Spring Valley, South C, Parklands, Runda and other parts of the city.

Nairobi Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamud said detectives recovered four pistols, hundreds of stolen mobile phones, laptops and motorcycles believed to have been used in the robberies.

Eight suspects were arrested including two women whom police say were tasked with ferrying firearms between Mombasa, Nairobi, Kisumu and Malindi.

“The women were being used to transport the guns because criminals believed they would not attract suspicion,” Mr Mohamud said.

Police believe some of the recovered firearms were used in robberies targeting motorists along Thika Road, Mombasa Road and Kiambu Road.

The breakthrough came after detectives traced stolen mobile phones to suspected receivers of stolen property.

That investigation eventually led them to the alleged robbery syndicate.

“The operation began with the recovery of stolen phones from receivers. That trail led us to the robbers. We neutralised one suspect during an operation in Joska and arrested eight others. We also recovered four pistols,” Mr Mohamud said

The recovered firearms have been sent for ballistic examination to establish whether they were used in previous crimes and how they found their way into the hands of criminals.

Police also recovered more than 300 mobile phones and several laptops during coordinated raids across Nairobi.

In Dagoretti, officers recovered 212 mobile phones and seven laptops.

Another operation in Nairobi's central business district yielded 50 phones, five tablets and assorted phone accessories.

In Kayole, detectives recovered 117 mobile phones, arrested 29 suspects and seized one pistol and a homemade firearm.

Seven additional mobile phones were recovered during an operation in Embakasi.

Investigators believe the stolen phones were being disabled using specialised equipment before being smuggled out of Kenya, rebranded and later resold to unsuspecting buyers in African markets.

"We are actively pursuing everyone involved, including foreign nationals. Police understand how the network operates and we will dismantle it piece by piece. There will be no safe haven, no hiding place and no tolerance for these criminals,” Mr Mohamud said.

Police also recovered four motorcycles allegedly used by the suspects during robberies.

He urged members of the public to continue sharing information with police, saying intelligence from residents remains critical in dismantling organised criminal gangs.

Reporting originally appeared via Nation Africa. Read the full source for additional context.