The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), working with INTERPOL and other government agencies, has seized suspected counterfeit and contraband goods valued at more than KSh 62.7 million following a three-day nationwide security operation.
The operation, dubbed Usalama XII, resulted in 29 arrests, the rescue of seven suspected victims of human trafficking and the recovery of 85 Kenyan passports from a suspected illegal recruitment agency.
The intelligence-led operation targeted counterfeit goods, illicit alcohol, soft drinks, smuggled cigarettes, self-care products, falsified pharmaceuticals, human trafficking and wildlife-related crimes across Nairobi, Central, Coast, Rift Valley, Eastern, Nyanza and Western regions.
The exercise was coordinated by the National Central Bureau and the Director of Operations at DCI headquarters, bringing together the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Transnational Organized Crime Unit, Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit, National Anti-Narcotic Investigations Bureau, Pharmacy and Poisons Board, brand owners and local police units.
In Nairobi, detectives recovered suspected counterfeit consumer goods, electrical accessories and automotive components worth millions of shillings.
The items included 3,991 suspected counterfeit Samsung and iPhone adapters, 1,963 football jerseys and Adidas-branded balls, beauty products, vehicle spare parts and lubricants.
Officers also discovered suspected falsified pharmaceuticals and diverted public medical supplies at an unlicensed clinic in Kayole.
In Eastleigh, detectives from the National Anti-Narcotic Investigations Bureau seized several bottles of products suspected to contain narcotic or psychotropic substances from a pharmacy for further analysis.
The operation also uncovered suspected cases of human trafficking and illegal recruitment.
In Westlands, detectives arrested a suspect at a recruitment agency allegedly operating without the required licence. Officers recovered 85 Kenyan passports, work visas and employment contracts during the operation.
In Roysambu, three girls were rescued from suspected sexual exploitation. Separately, officers in Gilgil intercepted four Somali nationals suspected to be victims of human trafficking, including two minors.
In Nakuru, police arrested a suspect found transporting 90,000 sticks of suspected smuggled cigarettes valued at approximately KSh 2 million. Counterfeit excise stamps were also recovered.
Additional operations in Central and Nyanza regions resulted in arrests and seizures involving suspected counterfeit and unmarked alcoholic beverages. Detectives also recovered suspected counterfeit mobile phones, storage devices and footwear.
The operation further involved checks on 198 motor vehicles against INTERPOL databases as authorities sought to identify potential links to transnational criminal activity.
The environmental enforcement operation led by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) resulted in the recovery of wildlife products and illegal fishing equipment across several locations.
These included 37.5 kilogrammes of dik-dik carcasses in Tana River, approximately 40 kilogrammes in Kuranze Ranch, four kilogrammes of zebra meat in Tsavo East, 1,500 cedar posts in Narok, 75 mangrove rafters in Malindi and 552.3 kilogrammes of fish at Lake Nakuru National Park, where nine suspects were arrested.
Officers also recovered an illegal fishing boat, fishing nets, hunting implements and other equipment linked to suspected wildlife offences.
Meanwhile, vehicle verification exercises conducted in Mombasa and other participating regions sought to identify vehicles potentially linked to transnational criminal activities.
A total of 198 vehicles were checked against INTERPOL databases, with no adverse findings reported in the specified verification exercises.
Investigations into the seized goods and arrested suspects are ongoing.
These include forensic analysis of suspected psychoactive substances, verification of counterfeit products and further inquiries into suspected illegal recruitment, human trafficking, pharmaceutical offences and the illicit alcohol trade.
The multi-agency crackdown underscores the authorities' efforts to disrupt criminal networks involved in the circulation of illicit products, illegal recruitment, human trafficking and other cross-border offences.
