A team of elite police officers caused a stir after they were spotted in Isiolo County on Sunday, June 7 in conspicuous sophisticated gear, complete with dark shades and body communication devices.
It emerged that officers from the Anti-Narcotics Unit and the Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU) had been deployed to the area to combat increased drug trafficking, smuggling of goods, human trafficking, and organized crime among other illegal activities.
Several illegal routes and passages have been created in the area by criminals seeking to move goods including drugs and contraband into Kenya from Ethiopia.
John Ochomu, head of the ATPU in Nairobi, was among officers in the team and revealed details of their plan for the coming weeks.
He disclosed that the decision to beef up security in the area was made at the highest level of the police service, promising to undertake their mission dutifully.
"Thank you to the Director-General of DCI and the Inspector General for supporting us to come here to Isiolo to look at the issues in Garbatulla, Merti and Isiolo.
"We are here to completely eradicate the vice of drug trafficking, human trafficking, organized crime, contraband smuggling, and terrorism. Young boys are travelling from here to Somalia, that is something we will work on very diligently," he highlighted.
Ochomu disclosed that the multi-pronged operation would have anti-narcotics, counter-terrorism and organized crime as the three main elements informing their approach.
"Also, this narco trade where drugs come from other areas through Merti, Garbatulla to Isiolo, it must stop. We have enough officers to support the three sub-counties to curb this menace and to eradicate it. That is our plan and strategy as we go forward," he revealed.
He urged members of the public to support the operation by giving them information on criminals undertaking various activities in the area.
"I'd like to appeal to members of the public because we can't work this without the community. Support us by giving information or tell us who are the big fish in the trade so that we can be able to get them out.
"Whatever information you give to us will be treated in confidence, so you don't have to worry that the information will leak to the wrong persons," Ochomu asserted.
They are expected to work closely with security officers who are already stationed in various sub-counties within the region.
Watch the officers in Isiolo below:
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