Police in Nairobi have arrested five suspects after officers raided a mobile phone repair shop in Dandora that was allegedly being used as a hub for concealing and distributing stolen electronics.
The operation, conducted in Dandora Phase III, has exposed what authorities described as an organised criminal network linked to a growing wave of mobile phone robberies and snatching incidents across the capital.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, May 27, the National Police Service (NPS) said detectives acted on intelligence reports and surveillance findings before storming the premises.
“Acting on credible leads, the officers raided a mobile phone repair shop located in Dandora Phase III, a premise now believed to have been operating as a concealment and distribution point for stolen property,” the police stated.
During the raid, officers recovered 21 mobile phones of different brands and models believed to have been stolen from unsuspecting members of the public during robberies and street snatching incidents within Nairobi estates.
Authorities also discovered 12 Kenya Power token meters hidden inside the shop, with investigators suspecting the devices had been unlawfully removed from residential premises.
The five suspects arrested during the operation remain in police custody pending further investigations and arraignment in court.
The discovery has raised fresh alarm over the increasing use of seemingly legitimate businesses as fronts for criminal enterprises in densely populated estates.
Investigators believe many stolen electronics are often dismantled for spare parts before being resold on the black market, making it difficult for victims to trace their devices.
The latest crackdown forms part of a wider security operation targeting organised criminal syndicates operating within Nairobi and its surrounding areas.
In a separate but related enforcement operation, the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) also conducted raids in Nairobi’s Pipeline area targeting suspected illegal broadcasting activities.
During the operation, officers confiscated decoders, amplifiers, splitters, cables and other broadcasting equipment allegedly being used to facilitate unauthorised access and public screening of premium television content.
Three suspects were arrested in the Pipeline crackdown and are expected to face charges after investigations are completed.
Security agencies have vowed to intensify operations against criminal networks exploiting ordinary businesses to run illegal activities under the guise of legitimate trade.
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