A recent report highlighted a rising trend of mobile phone theft across the globe, with hundreds of stolen devices entering global resale networks, including Kenya.
The United Kingdom has particularly experienced a surge in phone theft, with police data showing that roughly 80,000 phones were stolen in London alone in 2024.
According to retailers in the UK, phone theft mainly stems from shoplifters, who directly target iPhone stores with the hopes of securing the in-demand smart devices.
Worryingly, despite Apple's advanced security systems, these stolen devices have continued to enter global resale networks, with some gadgets eventually reaching African markets.
Investigations from the Metropolitan Police have shown that about three-quarters of stolen phones in London end up outside the UK. As recently as in October 2025, a network accused of smuggling up to 40,000 stolen phones, mostly iPhones, was disrupted by British Police, who intercepted a shipment of about 1000 iPhones near Heathrow Airport.
It has since been established that the phones are mostly shipped to China, where they are either reprogrammed, stripped for parts, or disguised as refurbished stock before being re-exported to regions where device blacklisting systems are weaker.
Refurbished iPhones
Notably, Kenya is one of several African countries that import large quantities of used and refurbished iPhones. Trade data shows that most of these imports come from China, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
Bearing this in mind, Kenya is inevitably on the red list of regions where there is an increased chance of dealing in stolen overseas devices.
The trade is lucrative because traders in Kenya import the devices legitimately from overseas without knowing that they may have been stolen directly from an iPhone store.
These phones often reach Kenya via online resellers, informal distributors, and individual traders, many of whom are unaware of the devices' origins.
A trader based in Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD) spoke exclusively to Kenyans.co.ke, revealing that a large consignment of phones comes from China and the UK. A smaller portion comes from the United States, and these fetch a slightly higher price.
"Most of these devices are fully functional. Before they are imported from China, the overseas dealers make sure everything checks out such that the phone is a 'buy and use' by the time it gets here," he explained.
"Maybe they are stolen. There is no telling for sure, but our suppliers are mostly those dealing with phones that have been refurbished abroad after they were initially sent back to the iPhone store with a flaw."
Also Read: Guide to Buying a Second-Hand, Refurbished iPhone in Nairobi
Asked how the stolen goods get past customs, the retailer explained that customs faced challenges identifying such devices because they arrive in small consignments. As such, these consignments get mixed with legitimate goods, and they are thus categorised as 'used electronics' or 'spare parts'.
To avoid falling for a stolen device, consumers are advised to always check IMEI numbers before purchase and buy phones only from authorised stores.
Consumers are also urged to exercise caution, particularly when a device is going for a suspiciously cheap price.
