Photo: DCI
A suspected member of a notorious “mchele” syndicate has been arrested in Ruiru following an intelligence-led operation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), marking a significant breakthrough in efforts to curb drug-facilitated theft targeting social revelers in Nairobi.
In a statement, the DCI said the suspect, identified as Jane Wangare Ndungu, was apprehended in the Kihunguro area after detectives traced her to Havilla Apartments.
The arrest followed a complaint filed at Embakasi Police Station by a victim who reported being drugged and robbed after an encounter at a social joint within the capital.
According to investigators, the complainant had been playing pool when he was approached and hugged by an unidentified woman. Shortly after the interaction, he began experiencing dizziness.
He later left the premises in the company of the woman before losing consciousness.
When he regained awareness, the victim discovered that several valuables had been stolen from his residence.
The stolen items included two laptops (HP and Lenovo), a Samsung S22 mobile phone, cash amounting to KSh168,000, and jewellery valued at approximately KSh50,000.
Acting on forensic leads, detectives tracked down the suspect’s residence in Ruiru, where a search led to the recovery of numerous suspected stolen items.
Among the items recovered were 40 assorted mobile phones, 14 laptops, and an iPad with a keyboard. Some of the items were positively identified as belonging to the complainant.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the suspect is part of a well-organized criminal network that uses a stupefying substance commonly referred to as “mchele” to incapacitate victims.
Once the victims are rendered unconscious, the syndicate allegedly steals valuables and accesses sensitive financial information, enabling further exploitation.
The DCI noted that such syndicates have increasingly targeted individuals in entertainment spots across Nairobi and its environs, raising concerns over public safety in social establishments.
Jane Wangare Ndungu is currently being held at Embakasi Police Station as detectives intensify investigations aimed at dismantling the wider criminal network.
The DCI has urged members of the public to remain vigilant, especially when interacting with strangers in social settings, and to report any suspicious activities promptly to law enforcement agencies.