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Originally published by Kenyanstop
November 11, 2025
2h ago
Inside Global Trade Route Bringing Stolen iPhones to Kenya
An elaborate syndicate operating in Europe and Asia ships stolen phones to foreign markets, with some of these devices ending up in Kenya...
✨ Key Highlights
Kenya has become a significant endpoint in a global trade route for stolen iPhones, primarily originating from the United Kingdom. These devices, often stolen from iPhone stores by shoplifters, are re-exported to markets with weaker blacklisting systems after being reprogrammed or refurbished in places like China.
- Approximately 80,000 phones were stolen in London alone in 2024.
- The Metropolitan Police found that about three-quarters of stolen phones in London end up outside the UK.
- A network smuggling up to 40,000 stolen phones was disrupted in October 2025 by British Police near Heathrow Airport.
- Kenyan traders often import these devices legitimately, unaware of their stolen origins, with consignments arriving from China, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
- Consumers are advised to check IMEI numbers and buy from authorised stores, particularly if a device is suspiciously cheap.
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