Detectives from Nairobi and Kilindini have recovered a shipment of assorted cooking appliances worth over Ksh10 million that had been stolen while in transit from the port of Mombasa to Malindi.
The recovery operation took place in the Saika area within Nairobi County.
The container, filled with valuable cooking equipment, went missing under suspicious circumstances during its journey from the Port of Mombasa to the coastal town of Malindi.
Initial reports suggested that the goods had been lost due to a purported mechanical failure that occurred along the Mombasa-Malindi highway, near Kikambala.
“The container with the goods worth over Ksh10 Million is suspected to have been diverted by the driver who in collaboration with others failed to deliver the goods to the intended recipient, claiming that the truck had developed mechanical problems at Kikambala, along the busy Mombasa-Malindi highway,” the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said in a statement.
DETECTIVES RECOVER STOLEN SHIPMENT WORTH SH10 MILLION
— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) September 29, 2023
Assorted cooking appliances that had been stolen while on transit from the port of Mombasa to Malindi, have today been recovered at Saika area within Nairobi County, by a joint team of detectives drawn from Nairobi and… pic.twitter.com/fsFybF2sao
The driver, in collusion with other unidentified individuals, had allegedly diverted the container and failed to deliver it to its intended recipient.
This prompted the concerned consignee to file a report with the Kilindini police station, triggering a full-fledged investigation into the mysterious disappearance of the cargo.
It was through the diligent efforts of the detectives, primarily from the elite Crime Research & Intelligence Bureau based in Nairobi that a breakthrough in the case was achieved.
One suspect, identified as Francis Victor Karua Gathii, was apprehended by the team of investigators.
“One suspect Francis Victor Karua Gathii was arrested and is now in custody assisting detectives with investigations,” the DCI stated.
Gathii is currently in custody, where he is assisting detectives with their ongoing inquiries into the theft and diversion of the cooking appliances.