By Miraj Guo | April 8, 2026
Detectives in Igembe North have apprehended a high-profile suspect believed to be the mastermind behind a sophisticated cyber fraud syndicate operating in the region.
In a swift evening operation on Wednesday, a joint team of officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Kenya Police Service (KPS) raided the Irindii area of Laare, successfully cornering the suspect after weeks of intelligence-led investigations.
The suspect, identified as Morris Kithinji Tirimiti, is a convicted felon who recently completed a 12-year prison sentence at Kamiti Maximum Security Prison and Naivasha Maximum Security Prison for grievous harm.
During the raid, officers recovered a cache of digital tools suspected to have been used in the fraudulent operation. These included six mobile phones and a staggering 39 SIM cards—33 registered under Safaricom and six from Airtel Kenya.
“The recovery of such a high volume of SIM cards points to a large-scale operation designed to evade detection and defraud unsuspecting members of the public,” said a senior investigating officer involved in the case.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect used multiple mobile lines to orchestrate mobile money scams and carry out digital phishing schemes targeting victims across the country. Detectives are currently working to trace the registered owners of the SIM cards and identify individuals who may have fallen victim to the syndicate.
The DCI has described the arrest as a major breakthrough in efforts to dismantle organized fraud networks in Meru County. Tirimiti remains in custody at Igembe North Police Station as investigations intensify, with authorities pursuing possible accomplices linked to the operation.
Members of the public have been urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious calls or messages to the nearest police station or through the DCI toll-free hotline.
