Ugandan suspect arrested at Kenya-Tanzania border attempting to smuggle boy

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A three-year-old boy reported missing in Malindi on February 13, 2026, was rescued at the Kenya-Tanzania border as authorities intercepted the suspect allegedly trying to smuggle him out of the country.

The suspect, a 29-year-old Ugandan national, Arnold Ethan, was caught by detectives from Malindi and Lunga Lunga in collaboration with Tanzanian authorities.

According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the suspect had lured the child while the boy’s mother was at work in Malindi Central.

“The suspect was intercepted at the border, and the child was recovered safely,” the DCI said in a statement.

Investigators said Arnold Ethan runs a nail parlour near the family’s shop and used the boy’s familiarity to lure him.

The child, found traumatised but unharmed, was reunited with his parents and taken to Malindi Sub-County Hospital for medical examination.

The suspect is now in custody at Malindi Police Station, undergoing processing ahead of arraignment.

“We urge parents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately,” the DCI added.

The operation highlights cross-border cooperation and the DCI’s rapid response in child abduction cases.