Over the weekend, police in Mombasa arrested 163 individuals suspected of criminal activities during a series of coordinated operations.

The arrests, made on Saturday and Sunday, follow an increase in criminal incidents, particularly involving motorbike gangs targeting pedestrians and businesses in the city.

Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Ahmed Mahmoud, addressing journalists at Treasury Square in Mvita, explained that the surge in motorbike-related crimes prompted an urgent response.

“The intelligence committee met and devised strategies to flush out criminal gangs operating in the CBD,” Mahmoud said.

The crackdown was triggered by recent incidents captured on CCTV. On Saturday, a gang of three men armed with pangas was seen robbing a victim in the Moons area of Tononoka Ward. After the attack, the gang fled to the stadium area and committed a similar crime.

In response to the escalating situation, two major operations were carried out on Saturday night.

The first, led by officers from Makupa Police Station, resulted in the arrest of 24 suspects, who are scheduled to appear in court on Today.

The second operation, a multi-agency effort involving the Central Police Station, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), administration police, and the County Inspectorate, led to the arrest of 75 individuals.

The suspects are currently in custody at Central Police Station, awaiting court proceedings. An additional 64 suspects were apprehended on Sunday.

DCC Mahmoud highlighted the role of street families in worsening the crime situation.

“Criminals are disguising themselves as street families to mug residents. The Makadara ground has become a haven for these criminals,” he told the journalists.

He acknowledged the challenges of accommodating and rehabilitating these individuals but assured that discussions with the county government are ongoing to address the issue of street families.

The DCC emphasized the importance of community cooperation in the fight against crime.

“We urge residents to provide evidence and formally lodge complaints at police stations. Without complaints, cases cannot proceed,” he said.

He also called on the public to share intelligence to help police address criminal activities effectively.

Mahmoud reassured residents of increased safety measures and pledged to enhance raids on drug dens, which are often hotspots for criminal activity.

Plans are also underway to collaborate with boda boda leadership to ensure all riders have valid documents, aiming to eliminate criminal elements from the sector.

In a related development, the Mombasa County Government has launched a crackdown on street urchins and families who have been causing disturbances in major streets of the CBD, aggravating the situation for pedestrians and shoppers.