Police in Garissa recovered a stolen firearm and several personal items during a raid in Madogo, Tana River, on Wednesday, acting on intelligence from a recent robbery report.

The operation was led by the Deputy Regional Criminal Investigations Officer for the North Eastern Region, together with officers from Madogo police station, following a robbery reported at Garissa police station on August 5.

During the raid, a suspect was taken to a house in Bula Kartasi Estate, where officers recovered a Glock pistol with 17 rounds of ammunition.

They also seized a wallet containing the complainant’s national ID and his wife’s ID, a Kenya Police Service certificate of appointment, a military ID, a smock jacket, a police belt, and several swords, among other items. The suspect is currently in custody pending arraignment.

Police praised the smooth coordination of the operation and reaffirmed their dedication to maintaining public safety.

In recent weeks, violent robberies and armed incidents have risen across parts of Garissa and Tana River counties, with stolen firearms increasingly being used in criminal activities, according to police sources.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations said organised gangs have exploited porous borders and remote terrain to traffic weapons and stolen goods.

Authorities warned that these crimes put residents at risk and also hinder counter-terrorism and anti-banditry operations in the North-Eastern region.

To tackle the issue, law enforcement has focused on intelligence-led patrols, targeted raids, and inter-agency cooperation to dismantle criminal networks.

On Monday, a separate operation in Malindi, Kilifi County, led to the arrest of 20 suspects linked to gangs involved in drug trafficking and other criminal activities.

The National Police Service said it remains committed to protecting lives and property and will continue intelligence-driven operations to disrupt organised crime in the region.