Detectives recovered a UK-stolen Land Rover Discovery from a vehicle yard along Nairobi’s Northern Bypass.
Detectives recovered the Land Rover along Northern Bypass after checking more than 260,000 vehicles against INTERPOL records during a nationwide operation.
A DCI vehicle crackdown has recovered a Land Rover Discovery stolen in the United Kingdom from a Nairobi vehicle yard. Detectives found the grey vehicle along Northern Bypass during the week-long Operation Carback II.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations said database checks confirmed that someone had reported the vehicle stolen in the UK. Officers then took it to DCI headquarters for further processing and investigations.
The multi-agency operation ended on Friday, with the DCI outlining its findings in a statement on Saturday. Besides the Land Rover recovery, investigators identified suspected registration irregularities in Thika West and Embakasi.
DCI vehicle crackdown spans seven regions
During the operation, detectives physically inspected more than 1,800 vehicles across the country. They also checked over 260,000 vehicles against INTERPOL’s database.
Teams covered Nairobi, Eastern, Central, Nyanza, Western, Coast and Rift Valley regions. Their inspections targeted vehicle yards, showrooms, spare-parts shops, garages, vehicle bazaars and highway checkpoints.
The DCI led the operation through its INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Nairobi and the Operations Directorate. Other investigative units, national law enforcement bodies and regulatory agencies also took part.
The agency said the initiative sought to disrupt organised vehicle theft networks and recover stolen vehicles and parts. It also aimed to strengthen cooperation between law enforcement agencies across borders.
Registration discrepancies trigger further inquiries
In Thika West Sub-County, investigators found a white Mercedes-Benz Kompressor carrying registration details for an orange Suzuki station wagon. The mismatch prompted further inquiries by the Sub-County Criminal Investigations Officer.
Meanwhile, detectives in Embakasi recovered a forklift whose records corresponded to a crawler. Its obliterated chassis number raised further suspicion, and the case went to DCI Embakasi for investigation and appropriate action.
The DCI identified these cases as suspected irregularities requiring further investigation. By contrast, checks on the Land Rover confirmed an existing UK stolen-vehicle report before officers impounded it.
International partners support coordinated operation
Operation Carback II followed a similar exercise conducted in 2024. Kenya joined other INTERPOL member countries in the coordinated international effort under Project Drive Out.
The operation also involved cooperation with the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, known as Europol. Within Kenya, participating agencies included the National Transport and Safety Authority and the Kenya Revenue Authority.
The Kenya Bureau of Standards and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions also participated. The Kenya Police Service and Administration Police Service were part of the multi-agency team.
The DCI said intelligence-led operations and international information-sharing remained central to identifying stolen vehicles and disrupting cross-border criminal networks. It also pledged continued cooperation with national, regional and international partners to recover stolen property and pursue vehicle theft syndicates.
