The Uganda Police Force has recovered 143 suspected stolen smartphones and arrested three suspects following what police described as a successful intelligence-led operation targeting an organised mobile phone theft and trafficking syndicate operating within the Kampala Metropolitan area.
Speaking about the operation, Deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson ASP Luke Owoyesigyire said the recovered devices are predominantly iPhones believed to have been stolen from different victims.
“Police 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,” ASP Luke Owoyesigyire said.
He identified the suspects as Tumusiime Derrick, also known as Gana, Niyonzima Fabrice, also known as Sadat, and Kitoko Emmy. According to ASP Owoyesigyire, preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects are part of a criminal network that receives suspected stolen mobile phones, alters 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,” ASP Owoyesigyire said.
He noted that investigations are continuing to identify more victims, recover additional exhibits and arrest other members of the criminal network. ASP Owoyesigyire appealed 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. 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 Owoyesigyire said.