Officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) are pursuing a gang that raided a lorry transporting 522 bags of rice to Nairobi.
According to a statement from the officers, the lorry was transporting the products from Mombasa on Tuesday, June 5, when the thieves attacked it at night.
Further, the police indicated that the six men hijacked the lorry and took control of it within Thange area in Kibwezi, Makueni County.
Later, they dumped the driver at Ngwata area and made away with the goods and the lorry.
“DCI Kibwezi has launched investigation into the theft of 522 bags (each 25kgs) of rice that were stolen on 05/06/2024 at 0230hrs, after a driver of a vehicle registration number KCY 107U, an Isuzu FRR lorry,
“Enroute from Mombasa towards Nairobi was accosted by six men who took control of the lorry within Thange area. The driver was later abandoned at Ngwata area,” the statement read in part.
Also Read: DCI Ejects Traffickers Guised as Passengers from Matatu in Middle of Highway
Some of the Rice Heist Thieves including Officer Arrested
Although some of the suspects escaped, the officers arrested three of the gang members including a police officer identified as Francis Mutiso.
Moreover, the officers detained a Probox of registration number KDD 396T in connection to the heist.
Manhunt for the rest of the suspects is ongoing and officers drawn from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations have indicated that they are also looking for the missing lorry.
Also Read: How Pursuit of Car Thieves Led to Arrest of 5 DCI Officers in Tanzania
Passengers Transporting Bhang in Matatu
In a separate incident, two suspects were arrested while transporting bales of bhang in a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) matatu.
According to the DCI, the duo was travelling in a Nairobi-Bound PSV matatu that was coming from Busia when the officers discovered 16 bales of bhang stashed in their travel bags seized.
“Two suspects of trafficking in narcotics were early this morning ejected from a Nairobi-bound matatu from Busia at the Kangemi flyover
“The arrest of the two, Samuel Okello and Antony Omingo, followed a tip from members of the public, indicating presence of the illicit cargo at the Trippin Shuttle Sacco matatu they were traveling in,” read part of the statement.
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