Police seize cars stolen in Europe

Vehicles stolen from European countries are finding their way into the East African region through the port of Mombasa police investigations revealed on Sunday.

Police at Mombasa port with support from the International Police Organisation (Interpol) are said to be detaining a number of containers at the harbour for allegedly having vehicles suspected to have been stolen from Europe.

As a result of intensified surveillance and sharing of intelligence information between Interpol and security agencies at the Mombasa port most of the suspect vehicles are being seized before leaving the facility.

Most of the vehicles intercepted are said to be on transit to the neighbouring countries of Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania or Rwanda.

Head of Interpol in Nairobi Patrick Obimo confirmed they share information with different government security agencies on crime but declined to give details.

“What I can tell you is that we alerted the relevant agencies about this matter and they are the ones handling it,” he said.

The seized cars include BMWs

The Mombasa port police boss, Mr Ayub Gitonga, and his CID counterpart, Mr Seroney Kiberenge, confirmed that they were investigating cases of vehicles suspected to have been stolen from Europe transiting through Mombasa port after being alerted by Interpol.

“Right now we are detaining four containers in connection with the on-going investigations,” Mr Gitonga said. Documents seen by the Nation show the vehicles in the seized containers include BMWs and Ranger Rovers that were shipped to the Mombasa port from the UK.

According to the documents the vehicles were destined to the neighbouring countries of Tanzania and Uganda. Interpol has raised a red flag over a surge in theft of vehicles worldwide stating that in every 10 seconds one vehicle is stolen globally.

The global security agency indicates that over three million vehicles disappear each year, the criminals raking in an annual profit of about $19 billion. The body recently singled out DRC as being the most notorious destination for vehicles stolen from other parts of the world, most of which pass through the port of Mombasa.

The organisation says that after the cars are successfully cleared from the port and taken across the borders they are later sold to unsuspecting buyers who end being held by police once the cars are traced to them.