Two suspects have been arrested in Keroka in Nyamira County with Bata shoes worth Ksh 7 million, suspected to be part of Ksh 20 million loot orchestrated using e-gift vouchers.
The Directorate of Criminal investigations-DCI- says that the recovery was made on Sunday from a shop owned by the said suspects.
The suspects are thought to have used the Bata Club vouchers which entitle members to discount vouchers, birthday gifts, private sales, exclusive previews and many other advantages.
Following the loss of goods worth over Ksh. 20 Million by Bata Shoe Company through fake egift vouchers by fraudsters presented to several Bata shops within Nairobi, two suspects have today been arrested by @DCI_Kenya Serious Crime detectives at Keroka, Nyamira County. pic.twitter.com/IhJMHiZwMo
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— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) June 7, 2020
The DCI via their twitter handle said further investigations are ongoing for more arrests and recoveries.
Elsewhere, the state has deployed special anti-narcotics and anti-terror police units to Isiolo County and its environs, to among others deal with the menace of drug trafficking, human trafficking, contraband goods and other organized crimes such as recruitment of local youths into outlawed terror groups most notably Al Shabaab.
The elite squads arrived in Isiolo Sunday led by Senior Assistant Inspector General John Gachomo who heads the National Anti-Terror Police Unit and received by County Commissioner Herman Shambi and the County Police Commander Joseph Kigen.
Addressing journalists at the Isiolo police grounds soon after their arrival, Gachomo put those involved in the said crimes on notice, adding that the team will be based in Merti, Garbatula and Isiolo Sub counties, with a clear intention to decisively eradicate the cartels using that route.
The criminals are believed to have strong linkages in the neighbouring countries of Ethiopia and Somalia where the drugs and contraband mostly come from, with Isiolo turning out to be a major player in the distribution of bhang and other narcotics to other parts of the Country especially Nairobi.
In the recent past, the County has hit headlines with several consignments of bhang worth millions of shillings nabbed in the county and in other incidences, similar consignments nabbed in other counties enroute to Nairobi from Isiolo.
Gachomo appealed to members of the public to volunteer crucial information to the security team in order to ensure that the war on drugs and other organized crimes becomes a success, assuring them that all information received will be treated with utmost confidence.
Isiolo County Commissioner Herman Shambi said that the team will work in collaboration with security teams in neighbouring counties of Wajir, Marsabit, Garissa and Meru in order to ensure that the said crimes are decimated in the entire region.
Shambi also called for cooperation among members of the public in terms of sharing critical information with security officials, noting that the volunteered information will be treated confidentially.
He asked Kenyans who could be afraid of victimization to volunteer information by calling 988, a number that does not disclose the identity of the caller.
He said that all the drug consignments nabbed in Isiolo in the recent past will be destroyed in the full glare of a few witnesses once investigations are completed and a court order to undertake the exercise obtained.
