Police in Isiolo have arrested four suspects found in possession of military gear and 158 rounds of live ammunition during an operation at a roadblock.
In a statement, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the suspects were apprehended at 1:30 a.m. on Friday at Hospital Junction along the Marsabit-Isiolo road. Officers manning the roadblock flagged down a Mitsubishi Fuso lorry, leading to the discovery of concealed military equipment.
“On conducting a search, the officers found a brown bag containing 142 rounds of 7.62×39mm ammunition (used in AK-47 rifles), 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition (used in pistols), a rifle cleaning kit, two pairs of military boots, a ground sheet, a military camelbak, military trousers, tactical shirts, and other items,” the DCI said.
The suspects, aged 28, 28, 20, and 18, were arrested and detained at Isiolo Police Station. Their vehicle was impounded as investigations continue. A multi-agency team is interrogating the suspects to establish the source and intended use of the recovered items.
The arrest follows a series of recent operations targeting criminal activities. On Thursday, police in Kijabe launched a manhunt for three robbery suspects who attacked a motorist on Wednesday night along Old Kijabe Road. The gang, armed with machetes and a pipe wrench, robbed the victim of Sh70,000, a Samsung Galaxy S22, several credit cards, and forced him to reveal his M-Pesa PIN, transferring Sh70,000.
Meanwhile, on November 25, two suspects were arrested at a petrol station in Ruiru near the Eastern Bypass. Police recovered nine pellets of cocaine weighing 180g and rolls of bhang from their car. Detectives believe the suspects were awaiting a buyer, with the cocaine valued at Sh2,800 per gram, potentially earning Sh504,000 in sales.
Investigations into these incidents are ongoing as law enforcement continues to crack down on crime in the region.
