Mombasa:A court in Mombasa has given police 21 days to detain two suspects accused of being part of a syndicate that drugs and robs bus passengers.
According to Kenya News Agency, Senior Resident Magistrate David Odhiambo approved the request from detectives at Makupa Police Station, who sought additional time to investigate the alleged criminal ring. The suspects, Pius Paskale Prugence from Tanzania and Abdulrahman Omar, are linked to the theft of property valued at over Sh2 million from a passenger traveling from Nairobi to Mombasa.
Investigators argued they needed more time to uncover the syndicate’s full scope, identify other accomplices, and recover more stolen goods. They are also determining if the suspects are connected to other similar incidents in Mombasa and Nairobi. The investigating officer emphasized the need to trace other potential suspects involved in the crimes.
The police opposed granting the suspects cash bail or bond, citing concerns they might flee and disrupt the investigation process. They described Paskale as a flight risk due to his Tanzanian nationality and residence in Mombasa, which could facilitate his escape from the country.
The case originated on September 26, 2026, when Nicholas Mbuvi Ndolo was found in a weakened state at Makupa Police Station and subsequently hospitalized. Ndolo reported that after sharing a meal and an unusual-tasting biscuit with a fellow traveler on a Green Line Royal bus, he lost consciousness and awoke in the hospital. Missing items from his backpack included a Kenyan passport, a UK visa, an HP laptop, a Xiaomi tablet, three mobile phones, power banks, bank cards, electronic accessories, and £2,975, totaling Sh2,008,725 in value.
Detectives tracked one of Ndolo’s phones to Kisauni on September 29 using Apple’s Find My phone feature. When confronted by police, Omar allegedly attempted to discard the phone and later led authorities to Magongo, where Paskale was apprehended. Some of Ndolo’s belongings were found at a location linked to Paskale.
Police also seized several mobile phones, identification documents, jewelry, smartwatches, phone accessories, clothing, suitcases, and substances suspected of being used to incapacitate victims. The substances will undergo laboratory testing, and the phones will be analyzed by the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau. Investigators plan to conduct identification parades and gather statements from others who may have experienced similar thefts.
Magistrate Odhiambo ruled that the suspects would remain in custody for 21 days, allowing police to complete their investigations before any further legal proceedings.
