Kampala, Uganda – Police in Wakiso District detained a 32‑year‑old Congolese national, Jean‑Claude Mbuyi, on Tuesday after a month‑long investigation linked him to an international ring smuggling stolen mobile phones from the Democratic Republic of Congo into East Africa. Authorities say Mbuyi coordinated shipments through informal border crossings, using local transport firms to move thousands of devices worth an estimated $4 million. The operation allegedly exploited the high demand for cheap smartphones in Uganda and Rwanda. Mbuyi is being held at the Wakiso Central Police Station pending charges of organized crime, illegal trafficking, and money laundering. The case highlights growing concerns over cross‑border illicit trade in the Great Lakes region.
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