Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have recovered a Land Rover Discovery stolen in the United Kingdom after checking more than 260,000 vehicles against the INTERPOL database.
In a statement on October 17, the DCI said the grey Land Rover, registration number KCY 001J, was recovered from a motor vehicle yard along Nairobi County’s Northern Bypass during a week-long multi-agency operation targeting vehicle theft syndicates.
“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,” stated DCI.
After checks confirmed that the vehicle had been reported stolen in the UK, detectives impounded it and escorted it to DCI headquarters for further processing and investigations.
The recovery was part of Operation Carback II, a crackdown involving the DCI, INTERPOL and other Kenyan law enforcement and regulatory agencies.
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Detectives Inspect More Than 1,800 Vehicles
The DCI said the operation built on a similar crackdown conducted in 2024 and involved physical inspections of more than 1,800 vehicles and checks on over 260,000 vehicles against the INTERPOL database.
“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 agency said.
Teams spread across Nairobi, Eastern, Central, Nyanza, Western, Coast and Rift Valley regions, targeting motor vehicle yards, showrooms, spare-parts shops, garages, motor vehicle bazaars and highway checkpoints.
The DCI’s INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Nairobi and the Operations Directorate spearheaded the operation, working with other DCI directorates and several national agencies.
The agencies involved included 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.
Kenya also joined other INTERPOL member countries in a simultaneous global operation coordinated under Project Drive Out, in collaboration with the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol).
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“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 DCI said.
Other Vehicles Flagged in Thika and Embakasi
In Thika West Sub-County, detectives discovered a white Mercedes-Benz Kompressor bearing registration number KBZ 325J, which belongs to an orange Suzuki station wagon.
The mismatch raised questions about the vehicle’s identity and registration, prompting the Sub-County Criminal Investigations Officer to investigate further.
In Embakasi, detectives recovered a forklift bearing registration number KAD 132K, which they found belonged to a crawler. An obliterated chassis number raised further suspicion, prompting the referral of the matter to DCI Embakasi for further investigations and appropriate action.
The DCI said Operation Carback II was part of wider efforts to dismantle motor vehicle theft networks operating locally and across international borders.
The agency added that it would continue working with national, regional and international partners to combat vehicle theft, recover stolen property and bring those involved in criminal networks to justice.
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