Army officer and juvenile among those arrested in multi-agency operation – DCI

An army officer and a juvenile are among those arrested during an operation to end substance use in the coast region, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) reports.

“A multi-agency team of law enforcers supported by other government and non-government agencies and operating under Operation Usalama – Coast Region has completed a four-day operation that targeted substance dens in Kengeleni, Magodoroni, and Shanzu areas, Kisumu Ndogo, Sea Breeze within Malindi township, and Timboni area in Watamu. 

“During the operation, several suspects, including a juvenile and an army officer, were arrested and substances seized. The substances include herǫin and diazepam, among others,” DCI’s statement read.

The multi-agency team, according to the agency, visited several shops where a search was conducted and counterfeited sportswear was also recovered.

A different operation targeting counterfeit books was also undertaken, where several bookshops were targeted.

DCI further explained why the operation was conducted.

“The operation was necessitated as a result of the recognition by the chiefs of police of both regions of the threats posed by transnational activities, including motor vehicle theft, substance movement, trafficking in persons (TIP)/smuggling of migrants (SOM), and proliferation of small arms, fugitive tracking, smuggling of minerals, and counterfeit and illicit goods, and the need to cooperate in the fight against cross-border and transnational activities that afflict the two regions,” it concluded.

Operation Usalama is the brainchild of the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation (EAPCCO), a regional police body whose membership consists of Chiefs of Police in 14 countries, and the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Co-operation Organisation (SARPCCO), which is principally responsible for the prevention and combating of cross-border and transnational organised criminal activities.

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