Police operation nets 30 stolen cars

By Cyrus Ombati

Thirty luxury four-wheel-drive cars have been seized by police in a fresh crackdown on stolen vehicles.

Thirty-five vehicles which have been detained at police yards in Nairobi and Mombasa are on Interpol’s list that shows they were stolen abroad, even though they have genuine import and registration papers.

The cars were taken to CID headquarters along Kiambu Road and the Dog Unit in Langata as the operation went on.

Police officers involved in crackdown which involves officers from the Interpol said the cars needed further scrutiny before they took the next move.

Police decided not to go public over the operation to avoid alerting motorists who could have hidden their cars.

Operation will continue

The officers said the operation will continue for the next two weeks in other towns in the country.

Detectives said the vehicles seized were listed as stolen from Japan, South Africa, Britain and other European countries.

They were then exported to Kenya, Uganda or Tanzania through Dubai and given all the necessary documentation.

The impact of the crackdown unfolded as those whose cars were impounded called newsrooms to complain about the manner the operation was conducted.

Prominent personalities

On Tuesday the detectives involved in the operation were on Thika Road, Waiyaki Way and Airport Road, Nairobi. Yesterday, they were at Mombasa’s Nyali area.

Detectives indicated that some of the impounded cars belong to prominent personalities.

Police indicated the operation would continue and extend to neighbouring countries to ensure the cars are returned to their owners.

In 2006, a similar exercise netted tens of cars. A Cabinet minister and an MP are among those whose cars were impounded in that operation.

Yesterday, motorists who got wind of the operation panicked, especially in Nairobi.

The Interpol team working with the Kenya Police arrived a week ago. Their work covers leading car markets such as Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Eldoret.