This archive report was first published on 2 November 2019.
On November 11, 2018, a string of high-end vehicle thefts took place in Berkshire, London, and Oxfordshire, with the stolen vehicles later being shipped into Kenya.
Fast forward to April, when Kenyan authorities seized four luxury vehicles believed to have been stolen and brought into the country. The vehicles, including a black Range Rover Vogue Autobiography, a white Mercedes Benz GLE, and two black Range Rover Sports Autobiography, were estimated to be worth over Ksh40 million ($400,000).
Thanks to a joint operation between the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), and the UK's National Crime Agency, the vehicles were seized and are now being re-shipped to the UK.
According to British High Commissioner to Kenya, Nic Hailey, the UK was actively involved in monitoring, coordinating, and liaising with the KRA to support the re-shipment of the vehicles.
"I am extremely grateful to our Kenyan partners whose continued efforts are acting as a deterrent to organised crime networks both in East Africa and the UK," Hailey said.
Hailey added that the UK will continue to work closely with Kenyan authorities to combat serious organised crime that impacts both the Kenyan and British public.
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), DCI, and the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) attributed the interception to information and intelligence shared by Kenyan agencies and their international law enforcement partners.
Between March and September, up to 21 high-end vehicles valued at over Ksh130 million ($1.3 million) were intercepted at the port of Mombasa, with the vehicles having been shipped from the UK and Belgium.
"The vehicles had been shipped at ports in the UK and Belgium, and according to the manifest, all the 21 vehicles were intended for transit through Kenya and arrival at other destinations in East Africa," said Dr. Terra Saidimu, KRA's acting Commissioner of Intelligence and Strategic Operations.
Kenyan authorities have sent a strong message to criminal networks in East Africa and beyond that the port of Mombasa will not be used as a conduit for illicit trade.
"We are going beyond the quest for revenue and heeding President Uhuru Kenyatta's call to root out illicit trade and safeguard a level playing field for legitimate businesses," said Dr. Saidimu.
