Two suspects arrested at JKIA over nationwide Mpesa thefts
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Banking Fraud Unit have arrested two suspects linked to a nationwide wave of Mpesa theft.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Banking Fraud Unit have arrested two suspects linked to a nationwide wave of Mpesa theft.
The suspects were apprehended at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Thursday evening, minutes after returning from Zambia, where they had allegedly gone into hiding.
Police linked the suspects to a series of Mpesa robberies that left several victims counting losses.
The suspects were captured on surveillance cameras at multiple locations where the thefts occurred. In one case reported at Meru Police Station, a man and two women were seen on CCTV at a mobile money shop.
The shop owner said the suspects requested to exchange foreign currency for the local currency. After a brief conversation, the suspects left, and the Mpesa attendant later realized that over Ksh.40,000 had been stolen.
Victims allege the thieves used a chemical to manipulate the attendant into handing over money without force.
“There were people who came in as customers, but they were actually robbers. There were three of them, and they said they wanted to exchange dollars,” Joseph M’Ibaya, a victim, said.
“When they handed over money to the girl, we did not realize what had happened to the cash… it was as if they had sprayed it with something, and later we realized a lot of money was gone.”
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Reports indicate that the suspects have used the same modus operandi to target mobile money operators in towns including Mombasa, Nairobi, Malindi, Nakuru, and Eldoret. Their activities reportedly went on for a long time without arrests.
“After we posted that video on TikTok, many people said they had also been victims of these people. It was a man and two women. When we went to Meru police station, there were other victims there,” M’Ibaya added.
“These people are not held accountable, and when they are arrested, they are released. This is government negligence. These people are stealing across Kenya, and the police are not doing enough.”
In one video, the suspects were captured in a wholesale shop, engaging the attendant before the employee willingly handed over money. They were also seen robbing a local bank in Mombasa in a similar manner and walking away.
After days of investigation, the two suspects arrested are Ali Samir Abdalla and Ajip Haisam. They are being held at Capital Hill Police Station as the manhunt for other accomplices continues. Victims are urged to come forward and record statements with police.
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