Detectives have arrested three men in a crackdown on a motor vehicle theft syndicate in Nairobi and its outskirts.
In a statement on Friday, April 4, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the operation began on March 3, 2025, when officers apprehended Mutua Julius Johnnand recovered a stolen vehicle.
According to DCI, Mutua's arrest provided crucial leads that resulted in the swift capture of three other suspects believed to be part of the organized syndicate.
"On March 3, 2025, detectives nabbed Mutua Julius John, during which they recovered a stolen vehicle registration number KDR 722K. Further investigative interviews with Mutua paved the way to the swift arrest of three additional suspects," the statement read.
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DCI said among those arrested is Simon Mumo Chege who is reportedly a specialist in tampering with vehicle chassis numbers
Detectives also arrested Raphael Oloo Kira who is alleged to be an expert in panel beating and riveting, and George Nyakundi Ogoro who was allegedly involved in a different stage of the operation.
"Simon Mumo Chege, who specialises in erasing and altering chassis numbers of stolen vehicles, was intercepted in Grogon, within the bustling Nairobi CBD. Also in custody is Raphael Oloo Kira, known for his skills in panel beating, riveting, and producing fake number plates, as well as prefabrication and identity change on the mirrors.
"Additionally, George Nyakundi Ogoro was nabbed for his involvement in hiring vehicles using fraudulent identification, only to steal them thereafter," the statement added
All the suspects are in custody and are undergoing processing ahead of arraignment in court.
"Meanwhile, the operation continues, with detectives focused on recovering more stolen vehicles and arresting additional suspects involved in removing tracking devices and manufacturing counterfeit number plates to match the embedded chassis numbers," the statement concluded.
