Over 1,800 Vehicles Inspected as DCI Uncovers UK-Stolen Vehicle

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have recovered a luxury vehicle stolen in the United Kingdom following a nationwide crackdown on motor vehicle theft syndicates that saw more than 1,800 vehicles physically inspected and over 260,000 checked against the INTERPOL database.

In a statement on Saturday, October 17, the agency said the recovery was made during Operation Carback II, a week-long, multi-agency operation targeting local and international criminal networks involved in motor vehicle theft and trafficking.

The DCI announced that the operation concluded on Friday, October 16, and was spearheaded by its INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Nairobi (NCB-Nairobi) and the Operations Directorate, working alongside other DCI directorates and national law enforcement and regulatory agencies.

"A major breakthrough in the fight against transnational motor vehicle crime has seen detectives recover a luxury vehicle stolen in the United Kingdom, in a week-long, multi-agency crackdown dubbed Operation Carback II, targeting local and transnational motor vehicle theft syndicates," the statement read.

According to the DCI, Kenya participated in the coordinated international operation alongside other INTERPOL member countries under Project Drive Out, in collaboration with the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol).

"Kenya joined other INTERPOL member countries in the simultaneous global operation, coordinated under Project Drive Out in collaboration with the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol). The initiative aimed to disrupt organised motor vehicle crime networks, identify and recover stolen vehicles and vehicle parts, and strengthen cross-border law enforcement cooperation," the statement added.

The operation brought together several agencies, including the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), Kenya Police Service and Administration Police Service.

Building on an earlier crackdown conducted in 2024, the latest operation involved extensive inspections and database checks across different parts of the country.

"Building on the success of a similar operation conducted in 2024, Operation Carback II delivered a nationwide enforcement sweep, with detectives physically inspecting more than 1,800 vehicles and checking over 260,000 vehicles against the INTERPOL database," the statement further read.

Detectives were deployed across Nairobi, Eastern, Central, Nyanza, Western, Coast and Rift Valley regions, where they inspected motor vehicle yards, showrooms, spare-parts shops, garages, motor vehicle bazaars and highway checkpoints.

Along Nairobi County's Northern Bypass, officers raided a motor vehicle yard and recovered a grey Land Rover Discovery bearing registration number KCY 001J.

A verification exercise subsequently established that the vehicle had been reported stolen in the United Kingdom, prompting detectives to impound it for further investigations.

"A check against the INTERPOL database established that the vehicle had been reported stolen in the United Kingdom. It was subsequently impounded and escorted to DCI Headquarters for further processing and investigations," the statement noted.

In a separate incident in Thika West Sub-County, detectives discovered a white Mercedes-Benz Kompressor fitted with registration number KBZ 325J, which belongs to an orange Suzuki station wagon.

The discrepancy between the vehicle and its registration details raised questions about its identity and registration, prompting further investigations by the Sub-County Criminal Investigations Officer.

Meanwhile, in Embakasi, detectives recovered a forklift bearing registration number KAD 132K, which was found to belong to a crawler.

The discovery of an obliterated chassis number raised further suspicion, leading officers to refer the matter to DCI Embakasi for further investigations and appropriate action.

This comes a day after former Nairobi Provincial Commissioner Davis Nathan Chelogoi was convicted in a Ksh1.35 billion land fraud case involving a parcel of land in Lower Kabete, Nairobi. 

In a statement on Friday, October 16, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) said the court found Chelogoi guilty of conspiracy to defraud, forcible detainer, two counts of forgery and an additional count of uttering a forged document in connection with the disputed property.

In its findings, the court established that the former commissioner conspired to defraud three individuals of the 7.390-hectare parcel of land.

"The court found that Chelogoi conspired to defraud Mr. Ashok, Rupshi Shah, and Hitebkumar Amritlal Raja of the land parcel known as Nairobi/Block/80/44, measuring approximate area 7.390 hectares, situated along Lower Kabete Road," the statement read.

The prosecution further established that Chelogoi forged a letter of allotment dated January 31, 1995, which purported to be a genuine document issued by the Commissioner of Lands.

The court also found that on October 11, 2023, at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters along Kiambu Road in Kiambu County, Chelogoi knowingly presented forged documents as genuine records.

The documents included a letter of allotment dated January 1995 and a certificate bearing a forged signature and stamp impression attributed to Paul Achieng Pesa. 

The documents were allegedly presented as authentic records issued by the Commissioner of Lands and the land register under the State Department for Lands and Physical Planning.