Police has conducted a successful intelligence-led operation within the Kampala Metropolitan area, leading to the recovery of 143 suspected stolen smartphones, the majority of which are iPhones, and the arrest of three suspects believed to be part of an organised mobile phone theft and trafficking network.
The arrested suspects have been identified as:
• Tumusiime Derrick, also known as Gana;
• Niyonzima Fabrice, also known as Sadat; and
• Kitoko Emmy.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects are part of a criminal group involved in receiving suspected stolen mobile phones, altering their motherboards and other identifying components to conceal their origin, before trafficking and selling them in neighbouring countries, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.
So far, owners of 20 of the recovered phones have been successfully identified. These victims have provided police with details of the cases they previously reported, including their respective police reference numbers, confirming that the recovered devices had been stolen.
Investigations are still ongoing to identify additional victims, recover more exhibits and apprehend other members of the criminal network.
Kampala Metropolitan Police therefore appeals to members of the public who may have lost an iPhone and reported the theft to police to contact officers at the Crime Intelligence Directorate with proof of ownership and the relevant police case reference number to facilitate verification and possible recovery of their devices.
The three suspects remain in police custody and will be arraigned before court upon completion of investigations to answer charges related to their involvement in this criminal enterprise.
The Uganda Police Force remains committed to dismantling organised criminal networks involved in the theft and trafficking of mobile phones and urges the public to continue reporting such crimes promptly.
ASP Luke Owoyesigyire Deputy Public Relations Officer Kampala Metropolitan Police
