A long-running investigation into a string of drink-spiking incidents on long-distance buses has finally borne fruit, with the arrest of Abdallah Suleiman, better known by the alias Asuu.
Suleiman had been on the radar of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for months, as complaints poured in from travelers who had been drugged and robbed during trips across Kenya and into neighboring countries.
The suspect had become a source of dread for passengers commuting between major cities such as Mombasa and Kisumu, as well as cross-border destinations like Tanzania.
Reports filed at Mombasa Central Police Station painted a disturbing pattern — a man posing as a friendly fellow traveler, only to turn on his victims after luring them into a false sense of security.
According to the DCI, Suleiman’s method was as deceptive as it was dangerous. He would initiate casual conversations with passengers, gain their trust, and then offer them snacks or soft drinks.
What appeared to be simple acts of kindness were actually carefully planned steps in a criminal routine — the snacks and drinks were laced with sedatives.
Once his unsuspecting victims lost consciousness, Suleiman would help himself to their belongings, disappearing with cash, phones, and bags before they could even realize what had happened.
“Asuu is the mastermind behind drugging unsuspecting passengers travelling to Mombasa, Kisumu, Tanzania and beyond, then robbing them of their hard-earned cash and valuables while they snooze,” read part of a statement from the DCI on Tuesday.
But the criminal streak came to an end at the Mariakani Weighbridge. Acting on a tip-off, detectives executed a well-planned ambush on a Nairobi-bound bus.
Officers boarded the vehicle and immediately identified Suleiman among the passengers. A search uncovered key items linking him directly to the crimes.
“But his luck ran out at the Mariakani Weighbridge, where sharp-eyed detectives boarded a Nairobi-bound bus and ended his drugged-up heist spree,” the DCI added.
Among the items recovered were packets of Lorivan-2 tablets — a sedative believed to have been his weapon of choice — along with ready-to-use snacks and soft drinks. These were likely intended for his next set of victims, had the operation not been stopped.
Suleiman was taken into custody in Mombasa, where detectives are finalizing investigations ahead of his arraignment in court. The DCI has urged anyone who may have fallen victim to his scheme to come forward and assist with the ongoing probe.
“Asuu is currently behind bars, cooling his heels as detectives prepare for his arraignment,” the DCI stated, providing a sense of relief for travelers who have grown increasingly cautious when using long-distance buses.
