Police hunts down illegal phone sellers, over 300 arrested
Oct 24, 2019
250 people were arrested from Katwe, 70 from cooper complex and 30 from Mutaasa Kafeero plaza.
CRIME NEWS
Business in various city suburbs of Kampala was paralyzed as security organs sealed off various arcades, suspected to be dealing in stolen electronic devices and motorcycles.
At around 11 am, joint security teams comprising of the military police, Uganda police, traffic police, Local Defense Unit and Field Force Unit sealed off Mutaasa Kafeero plaza, Royal Plaza, cooper complex, Temuseo Mpoza Plaza and Kizito towers blocking all access and exit points.
Katwe based motorcycle and spare parts shops near Muganzirwaza, where suspected stolen motorbikes are sold were also sealed off and 250 people are currently detained.
Addressing journalists at the Kampala Central Police Station on Thursday, Fred Enanga, the police spokesperson, said the operation was aimed at cracking down robberies and criminality in the city.
He said the operation was planned two months back and all the raided shops were their actual targets who deal in selling stolen motorcycles, iPhones, computers and electronics.
"We think these shops are involved in the production line that encourages people to steal, so our raiding them will disrupt their activities and restore sanity," Enanga said.
He confirmed that 250 people were arrested from Katwe, 70 from cooper complex and 30 from Mutaasa Kafeero plaza, mounting to a total of 350 suspects.
"From Katwe still, we've managed to recover 134 suspected stolen motorcycles and spare parts inclusive, 1,600 Phones from cooper complex but we are yet to identify those seized from Mutaasa Plaza," he said.
According to Enanga, phone dealers help the thieves to change the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number of any kind of phone, even if it's locked.
They then give new serial numbers and sell them off as if new ones.
Enanga appealed to Ugandans whose phones were stolen to go to CPS and check, noting that those whose phone's security features were changed, the police will restore them.
"The operations will continue until our people are safe with their property," he concluded.
However, the chairman Uganda Phone Traders' Association (UPTA), Godfrey Katongole said police couldn't have seized our phones, adding that not every trader sales stolen Phones.