TWO SUSPECTS ARRESTED IN KISII PHONE THEFT AND HACKING RACKET AS OVER 500 PHONES RECOVERED

A suspected phone theft and hacking racket operating under the cover of a mobile phone repair business has been uncovered in Kisii town, leading to the arrest of two suspects.

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Kisii Central, working alongside fraud investigators from Mogo Auto Ltd, raided a phone repair shop at Market Plaza following investigations into the theft and illegal unlocking of financed mobile phones.

The operation resulted in the arrest of two men identified as Duncan Ontita Anyaga and Phares Nyagaka Luke, who detectives reportedly found at the premises during the raid.

According to the investigators, the search uncovered more than 500 assorted mobile phones and phone motherboards stored at the premises. Among the devices were several Tecno KM4 handsets financed through Mogo, which had previously been reported missing.

Investigators suspect that the devices had been unlawfully unlocked and stripped of their security restrictions before being prepared for resale. The discovery has raised concerns over an organised network involved in obtaining financed phones illegally, bypassing security systems and reintroducing the devices into the market.

Financed mobile phones are often subject to security controls designed to restrict their use when borrowers default on payments or when the devices are reported stolen or missing. The alleged unlawful unlocking of such devices can therefore facilitate their resale while making it more difficult to trace their ownership.

The arrests follow growing efforts by law enforcement agencies and financing companies to disrupt networks suspected of targeting mobile devices acquired through financing arrangements.

The two suspects remain in custody as detectives continue processing the case and conducting further investigations into the source of the phones and possible links to other individuals involved in the alleged racket.
They are expected to be presented in court once investigations and the necessary processing are completed.

Authorities have continued to warn against the illegal trade in stolen and unlawfully unlocked mobile phones, urging members of the public to verify the ownership and status of devices before purchasing them.