Chinese woman suspected to be transformer theft mastermind arrested in Athi River

Police investigating the rampant spate of vandalism on electricity towers and sub stations have made a breakthrough following the arrest of a Chinese national suspected to be behind the illicit trade of stolen copper material.

Authorities on Saturday morning raided Jinxin Commercial Ltd, a scrap metal go-down in Athi River and found an assortment of copper and aluminium scrap metals believed to have been stolen from recently vandalized power lines and sub stations.

According to the officers, the suspect exported 10 tonnes of copper in the last two weeks valued at Ksh.8 million shillings.

Speaking to Citizen Digital, the Commanding Officer of the energy police unit, Zachary Mwangi said the suspect and her accomplices smelt the copper wires and aluminium into blocks before moving it to a container at the Nairobi ICD depot to avoid a police dragnet.