Six suspects are in police custody following an intensified security operation targeting violent criminal gangs across Kenya’s Coast region.
The coordinated crackdown, conducted by security agencies in Mombasa, Kilifi County, and Kwale County, was launched in response to rising incidents of violent attacks linked to the notorious “panga boys,” who have unsettled communities in recent weeks.
Acting on actionable intelligence, detectives carried out targeted raids against profiled gang members suspected to be behind a series of assaults and intimidation cases.
The operation led to the arrest of Nicholas Mumba Chisiwa, Haniff Iqbal Sharbaz, Salim Mafuko Hamis, Ali Musa Mwachimwandi, Sadik Hamis Mwanzembe, and Samuel Gitonga.
During the arrests, officers recovered assorted crude weapons and narcotic substances.
Authorities said the items seized corroborate prior intelligence assessments linking the suspects and their networks to both violent criminal activity and drug-related offences.
Security officials noted that the discovery of weapons alongside narcotics underscores the compound threat posed by organised criminal elements to public order and community safety in the region.
All six suspects are currently being processed as detectives advance investigations into multiple related incidents that remain under active review.
Security agencies have maintained heightened vigilance and affirmed that efforts are ongoing to track down remaining members and facilitators of the criminal cells to ensure sustained safety across the Coast region.
The operation, police said, remains active.
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