DCI, UK partner to strengthen fight against organised immigration crime in Moyale

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the United Kingdom have bolstered their collaboration to combat organized immigration crime along the Kenya-Ethiopia border. This was revealed in a statement by the DCI on its social media platforms on Monday, September 28, 2026. The partnership was underscored during a Counter Organized Immigration Crimes Team (COICT) meeting in Moyale, located in Marsabit County.

The COICT meeting gathered senior officers from the National Police Service, allied agencies, and local community leaders. Dr Ed Barnett MBE, the Deputy British High Commissioner to Kenya, headed the British delegation. Mohamed I. Amin, the DCI Director, was represented by the National Criminal Investigations Academy Commandant Ibrahim Jillo, Assistant Inspector General (AIG).

Amin highlighted the critical role of Moyale, emphasizing its significance as a border town that facilitates legitimate trade, social interaction, and economic opportunities. However, he cautioned that this bustling hub could also become a conduit for criminal networks to exploit cross-border movements for illicit gains. To address this, the DCI launched COICT, an initiative aimed at identifying, investigating, and disrupting these organized criminal networks instead of merely addressing individual incidents.

Amin stressed the importance of bolstering cooperation among agencies operating in the region, given that criminal organizations operate through coordinated efforts. He further urged COICT officers to maintain professionalism, integrity, and accountability, underlining that trust and ethical conduct form the backbone of effective investigations.

Dr Barnett praised the burgeoning partnership between the UK and Kenya in tackling immigration-related offenses. He emphasized that this collaboration would uphold human rights-based approaches in supporting immigration crime victims while intensifying investigations to dismantle criminal networks operating across borders. Barnett reiterated the UK's commitment to aiding the DCI and its partners in identifying, investigating, and dismantling syndicates that exploit individuals for financial gain.

Other senior officials present at the COICT engagement included Bianca Nzioki, the Director of Training and Research at the Administration Police Service, representing the Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police Service. DCI Deputy Director, Investigation Bureau George Kisaka was also among the attendees. The COICT engagement concluded with an inspection of newly built facilities specifically designed for COICT officers.

These facilities are anticipated to improve operational efficiency and fortify coordinated responses against organized immigration crime along the Kenya-Ethiopia border.