Kampala, Uganda – Police in the Wakiso district announced the arrest of a 32‑year‑old Congolese national, Jean‑Claude Mbuyi, suspected of leading a cross‑border operation that trafficked thousands of stolen mobile phones from the Democratic Republic of Congo into Uganda and Rwanda. The suspect was detained after a joint operation by the Uganda Police Force’s Anti‑Organised Crime Unit and the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL). Authorities say the network used informal border crossings and local markets to move the devices, generating an estimated $4 million in illicit revenue over the past two years. Mbuyi is being held at the Wakiso Central Police Station pending charges of organized crime, illegal importation, and money laundering. The police have seized over 12,000 handsets, a warehouse full of spare parts, and several cash bundles believed to be proceeds of the operation. The case highlights growing concerns about regional smuggling rings that exploit weak customs controls and the demand for cheap smartphones in East Africa.
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