Your stolen iPhone isn't just gone; it's likely already in Uganda. In a major breakthrough, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have dismantled a sophisticated cross-border syndicate, arresting seven suspects and recovering a treasure trove of stolen devices.

The operation, spearheaded by the elite Operation Support Unit (OSU), was a surgical strike on the city's dark underbelly. Raids in Shauri Moyo, the CBD, and Kasarani unearthed over 150 high-end smartphones, 16 tablets, and six laptops—gadgets ripped from the hands of terrified Nairobians in traffic jams and matatus.

The Ugandan Connection

The investigation has unmasked the international dimension of this crime. Among those arrested is Nambajwe Zaina, a Ugandan national believed to be the "Queenpin" of the logistics chain. Operating from a hideout in Shauri Moyo, Zaina allegedly coordinated the movement of devices from Kenyan snatchers to black market buyers across the border.

"She acts as the link," a DCI source revealed. "Once a phone is snatched on Moi Avenue, it is flashed, repackaged, and on a bus to Kampala within 24 hours." This rapid transit makes recovery nearly impossible for the average victim.

• The Haul: 150 Phones, 16 Tablets, 6 Laptops.
• The Suspects: Nambajwe Zaina, Kalyowo Sam, James Mwangi, Samuel Sifuna.
• The Tactic: "Flash and Dash"—wiping data immediately and shipping out of the country.

A City Under Siege

The arrests offer a glimmer of hope to a city under siege. Phone snatching has evolved from petty theft to organized crime, with gangs using motorbikes and violence to terrorize pedestrians. The recovery of these devices is a victory, but the war is far from over.

DCI boss Mohamed Amin has warned that the crackdown will continue. "We are coming for the technicians who flash these phones and the bus crews who transport them," he cautioned. For the seven suspects cooling their heels in custody, the call has finally dropped.