Detectives have dismantled a major international mobile phone theft syndicate, arresting seven suspects and recovering over 150 high-end devices destined for the black market in Uganda.

The intelligence-led operation, spearheaded by the DCI's Operation Support Unit (OSU), targeted a sophisticated network operating out of Shauri Moyo and the CBD. The bust followed weeks of surveillance and public outcry over a spike in violent muggings and phone snatching across Nairobi's estates.

The "Queenpin" of Shauri Moyo

At the center of the web is Nambajwe Zaina, a Ugandan national described by police as a key link between Nairobi thieves and Kampala buyers. Detectives raided her Shauri Moyo residence, finding 75 iPhones and Samsung devices already packed in sealed boxes, ready for export.

"She is not just a handler; she is a logistical hub," a DCI source revealed. "Thieves steal in the morning, deliver to her by noon, and by evening the phones are on a bus to Uganda. It is a seamless pipeline of crime."

• The Loot: In total, police recovered 150 mobile phones, 16 tablets, and 6 laptops. Many devices had already been "flashed" to erase tracking data, while others were being dismantled for expensive spare parts.
• The Accomplices: Among those arrested were shop owners in the CBD who used legitimate businesses as fronts. James Mwangi Gachoka was nabbed at his shop in Tusker House, where 19 stolen phones were found hidden in a false ceiling.

A City Under Siege

The arrests offer a glimmer of hope to Nairobians weary of the "phone snatching pandemic." The DCI has warned that this is just the beginning. "We are coming for the technicians who flash these phones," the statement read. "Without them, the stolen hardware is useless."

The recovered devices are currently being cataloged at DCI headquarters. Police have urged victims who reported thefts in the last month to visit the offices with proof of ownership.

For Nambajwe Zaina and her crew, the call drops here. They face multiple charges of handling stolen goods and conspiracy to commit a felony, with prosecutors likely to ask for denied bail given the cross-border nature of the crime.