The Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU), domiciled under the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI), helped Mozambique solve a complex terror case that had affected the country since 2017.
The specialised unit moved to Mozambique following a request from the Southern African country which had battled terror attacks for nearly seven years.
Proper training and modern equipment helped ATPU officers silence the guns in Mozambique, restoring stability and economic recovery.
Speaking after receiving Mozambique’s Attorney General Beatriz Buchili in Nairobi, ATPU Director Johnstone Kola credited the mission's success to the processing and preserving of evidence before production in court.
"Proper training, tooling and equipping of the anti-terror unit had given our officers the upper hand against the enemy, adding that processing and preservation of evidence before production in court was also key in ensuring that terror suspects suffered the consequences of their actions," Kola stated.
Director of Criminal Investigation Mohamed Amin attributed the success to close collaboration with Mozambican security officers which helped flush out the extremist groups.
"Initially, our agencies operated in silos and this would give undue advantage to criminal networks that exploited the existing gaps to evade justice," Amin stated.
Mozambique's Attorney General welcomed the security operation and confirmed that her country was at an advanced stage of introducing tactics used by Kenyan security forces.
She announced that Mozambique was contemplating building a facility similar to the DCI National Forensic Laboratory. The facility's functions include identifying, seizing and analysing all electronic devices related to cyber-enabled offences.
"The Mozambican delegation that also included the country’s envoy to Kenya, Ambassador Jeronimo Chivavi, among other dignitaries, is also expected to visit the DCI National Forensic Laboratory and the ATPU headquarters, for a more informed experience on our operations," DCI's statement read in part.
Besides Mozambique, DCI has also helped solve complex cases in Seychelles. On Monday, May 23, 2022, the agency's Forensic Ballistics Lab and the Bomb Disposal and Hazardous Materials unit were hired to help the island solve a case involving guns.
"Since the successful operationalization of the DCI-National Forensic Laboratory, the facility has proved to be an effective tool in solving complex crimes, not only in Kenya but across the region.
"On a request from the government of Seychelles, experts drawn from our Forensic Ballistics lab and the Bomb Disposal and Hazardous materials unit are currently in Seychelles on an international assignment," read the statement in part.
