Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) detectives are holding onto one person of interest linked to the spate of insecurity cases in Mombasa.
In a statement on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, DCI noted that the person of interest was apprehended at a motorcycle shop where he was in the process of acquiring a new bike.
DCI claimed that the individual was part of a gang in Mombasa who were using motorbikes to snatch mobile phones from unsuspecting bystanders in the Bamburi, Nyali, and Kadzandani areas.
However, DCI detailed that his motorbike was torched by irate locals and he had gone to acquire a new one when he was waylaid by detectives.
“In a determined pursuit of the gang, detectives arrested Ian Mahad, also known as Suleiman, at a motorcycle shop in Mombasa’s central business district, where he was purchasing a new bike. This came after angry locals torched his previous motorcycle during his theft spree on Saturday,” DCI’s statement read in part.
Others escape
Following his arrest, DCI explained that they extended their operation near Kadzandani Primary School where they recovered another motorcycle and other items.
During the operation, the sleuths disclosed that other persons of interest escaped after beating their dragnet.
“The suspect is currently in police custody undergoing processing pending arraignment, as detectives continue their intensive search for those who managed to escape the police dragnet,” DCI’s statement added.
Recently, CCTV footage was shared online showing how gangs robbed a resident sparking an uproar. The attack lifted the lid on the worrying state of crime by juvenile gangs targeting people at will in the Coastal City.
Following their resurgence, intelligence committees started devising strategies to flush out criminal gangs in the CBD.
In the previous operations, over 160 individuals were apprehended after their linked to criminal activities in the coastal city.
