Bus Passengers Drugged and Stripped of Valuables

Detectives in Mombasa have arrested a Tanzanian couple suspected of orchestrating a sophisticated scheme in which long-distance bus passengers were drugged and stripped of their valuables along the busy Nairobi-Mombasa corridor.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations announced the arrests on Wednesday, identifying the suspects as Pius Paskale Frugenze, 52, and his wife Redempta Revelian Kuleta, 47. Both nationals of Tanzania, the pair were tracked to a residence in the Magongo area following forensic leads generated by a recent attack.

The case that broke the operation open began on September 18, when a passenger boarded a Dreamline bus in Nairobi bound for Mombasa. According to investigators, the traveller was seated beside an individual who allegedly administered a stupefying substance during the journey. The victim lost consciousness and later regained awareness in a hospital bed at Tudor Sub-County Hospital, only to discover that his bag and other personal items had vanished.

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Detectives from Makupa Police Station immediately opened an inquiry. Using forensic evidence, officers traced the suspects to their Magongo hideout. A search of the premises yielded a critical breakthrough: the complainant’s HP laptop and an iPhone 17 Pro Max. Police also recovered a substantial haul of other items believed to be proceeds of earlier crimes, including multiple mobile phones, 20 phone chargers, 10 wristwatches, 20 wallets, assorted clothing and substances suspected to be the stupefying agents used in the attacks.
Authorities described the finds as evidence of a broader criminal enterprise that had likely targeted multiple travellers on the same route.

The couple remains in custody as detectives complete processing ahead of their expected arraignment in court.

The arrests highlight ongoing concerns about passenger safety on Kenya’s long-distance bus network, where criminals have repeatedly exploited crowded coaches and the vulnerability of travellers who accept food, drinks or casual conversation from strangers. Police continue to urge the public to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity promptly.