Police Recover Firearms, Drugs in Major Anti-Crime Operation in Isiolo, Marsabit
Isiolo, Kenya – February 22, 2025: At least ten firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and a variety of illegal items have been recovered in the ongoing Operation Ondoa Jangili, a multi-agency crackdown targeting criminal networks in Isiolo and Marsabit counties. Launched on February 3, the operation focuses on remnants of the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) and other cross-border criminal elements, aiming to restore security along the Kenya-Ethiopia frontier.
According to police spokesman Michael Muchiri, security teams have dismantled 14 makeshift camps believed to have been set up by criminals operating in remote areas. Recoveries include ten assorted firearms, holsters, fake US Dollars and Ethiopian Birr, a water bowser lorry, nine motorcycles, two vehicles, approximately 200 kilos of cannabis, solar panels, generators, food items, and military gear. This operation has curtailed illegal activities such as arms proliferation, human trafficking, illegal mining, and kidnappings for ransom, bringing relief to communities along the border, Muchiri said. Authorities noted that some criminal networks exploited close cultural ties between the Borana in Kenya and the Oromo in Ethiopia to evade law enforcement.
The operation follows high-level discussions between President William Ruto and Ethiopia’s Director General of the National Intelligence Security Service, Redwan Hussien, alongside Kenya’s DG of the National Intelligence Service, Noordin Haji. Police Chief Douglas Kanja emphasized that the operation targets organized crime threatening national security, including arms and drug trafficking, instigating tribal conflicts, and kidnappings across Sololo, Moyale, North Horr, and Merti sub-counties. Communities have been assured of their safety and urged to cooperate with security teams to ensure the operation’s success.
Security analysts say the success of Operation Ondoa Jangili could transform the region, reducing crime and fostering stability crucial for economic and social development. Police have pledged to maintain presence in the counties, pursue remaining criminal elements, and reinforce community trust in law enforcement, signaling a proactive approach to long-term peace along Kenya’s northern border.