The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Kenya has reported that an attempted jet fuel theft at Wilson Airport was foiled following an operation by detectives from the Kenya Airport Police Unit (KAPU), and four suspects have been arrested.
A suspicious white Mitsubishi Canter, registration number KBM 647D, was intercepted within the airport precincts.
According to DCI Kenya, the vehicle was found carrying four drums of jet fuel, each containing 200 litres.
The operation was described as a covert attempt to siphon fuel from airport operations under the cover of routine activity.
“The drama unfolded when detectives intercepted a white Mitsubishi Canter, registration KBM 647D, lurking within the airport precincts. While it tried to blend into the shadows of routine airport activity, the vehicle was carrying a heavy secret: four drums, each brimming with 200 litres of jet fuel,” the DCI stated in a statement.
DCI Links Jet Fuel Theft to Aircraft Under Maintenance at NASD Hangar
According to the DCI, preliminary investigations revealed that the fuel involved in the incident was drained from an aircraft stationed at the NASD hangar.
The aircraft, operated by Airworks Aviation, was undergoing maintenance at the time.
DCI further indicated that the maintenance activity may have provided cover for the alleged theft, allowing undetected access to the fuel during routine operations at the facility.
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The agency stated that the suspects’ plan to exit the premises without authorization was disrupted when security officers intervened and intercepted the operation.
“The plane, operated by Airworks Aviation, was undergoing maintenance, providing the perfect cover for the fuel-thirsty predators. However, their plan to fly under the radar crashed, as the law caught up with the suspects before they could make their unauthorized exit,” the directorate narrated.
Four Arrested Over Wilson Airport Jet Fuel Theft Case
The Directorate reported that the alleged owner of the consignment, Gladys Ndumba Kanairo, did not possess a gate pass for access to the airport premises.
Further, DCI stated that the vehicle used in the incident lacked mandatory authorization from the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) to transport petroleum products.
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“At the same time, the vehicle itself lacked the mandatory authorization from the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) to transport petroleum products,” the statement confirmed.
The driver, Timothy Wambugu Maina, together with Kennedy Njoka Kinuthia and Abdulmalik Musinga, were arrested alongside Kanairo in connection with the incident.
According to DCI, the four suspects are undergoing processing as investigators prepare to present them before the court.
The impounded vehicle and the recovered jet fuel have been detained and will be used as exhibits in the ongoing investigations.
