Six Police Officers Accused in Ammunition Trafficking Ring With Cross-Border Links

Nairobi, Kenya – Six serving police officers are facing grave allegations of involvement in an illicit ammunition trafficking syndicate believed to have cross-border connections. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has applied for a 14-day custodial order to detain the officers at Capitol Hill Police Station, citing risks of witness intimidation, interference with evidence, and possible flight.

The application, filed at the Milimani Law Courts, names the suspects as Charles Lotira Exidor, Ileli Cyrus Kisamwa, Samson Muriithi Mutongu, Wesley Sang, and Paul Kipketer Tonui. They were arrested on September 26, 2025, during coordinated operations in Eldoret and Nairobi, according to an affidavit sworn by Investigating Officer CPL Hillary Kimuyu.

Weapons and Ammunition Recovered

Police recovered a Remington Rand pistol, 19 assorted magazines, and a substantial cache of ammunition allegedly linked to the trafficking network. The DCI says the arrests follow weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering.

Investigators believe the ring was highly coordinated:

• Ileli Cyrus Kisamwa and Samson Muriithi Mutongu allegedly ferried ammunition from central police stores in Nairobi.

• Charles Lotira Exidor, a prison officer, is accused of transporting the contraband to Lodwar, with intelligence linking him to the illegal sale of ammunition at the Lokichogio market, near the porous Kenya–South Sudan border.

• Wesley Sang and Paul Kipketer Tonui were reportedly custodians of the keys to the armoury where the recovered weapons had been kept.

DCI Warns of National Security Threat

The DCI argues the case goes beyond misconduct, touching on national security at a time when the North Rift region faces ongoing threats from banditry and the proliferation of small arms.

If released, investigators warn, the suspects could:

• Intimidate civilian witnesses in Turkana and fellow officers.

• Interfere with yet-to-be-recovered exhibits stored in official armouries.

• Frustrate efforts to trace other suspects believed to be part of the network.

The DCI also highlighted a “substantial risk of flight”, especially for Lotira Exidor, whose ties to the Lokichogio border market allegedly make him capable of absconding across international boundaries.

Prosecution Seeks Extended Detention

The prosecution, citing Article 49(1) of the Constitution and Section 36A of the Criminal Procedure Code, argued that the standard 24-hour detention period is insufficient for such a complex case.

Investigators are still conducting:

• Ballistic analysis of the seized firearm and ammunition.

• Digital forensics on confiscated mobile phones.

• Documentary evidence tracing from police and prison armouries.

• Arrests of additional suspects in Turkana and Nairobi.

Court papers further suggest that more severe charges, including robbery with violence and even murder, may be filed after ongoing investigations.

Awaiting Court Ruling

The application will be heard before Magistrate Lucas Onyina, who will decide whether the suspects will remain in custody for the requested 14 days.

The case has intensified public concern about corruption and collusion within security agencies, especially as Kenya grapples with escalating violence in the North Rift and illegal arms smuggling across its borders.