A collage featuring confiscated fake gold and seized vehicles by the DCI in Kileleshwa on December 27, 2023. The image illustrates the ongoing crackdown on fraudulent activities in line with recent investigations. IMAGE|COURTESY
In Summary:
- DCI detectives intercept two containers at the Port of Mombasa suspected to contain fake tantalum minerals, exposing a scam targeting a Chinese businesswoman.
- The Chinese woman deposited Ksh151 million for a container, only to discover it was loaded with soil instead of minerals. Detectives suspect the involvement of fake gold scammers operating in Nairobi and Mombasa.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) recently made a significant breakthrough when they intercepted two containers at the Port of Mombasa suspected to be housing fake tantalum minerals. The containers, already paid for by a Chinese businesswoman, were destined for China, but she was unaware of the scam.
The Chinese businesswoman had deposited Ksh151 million for one container, believing it contained valuable minerals. However, upon inspection, it was discovered that the container was loaded with soil instead of the expected minerals.
This discovery prompted a swift response from detectives based in Mombasa, who intercepted two additional containers at the port just before they could leave for China.
Preliminary investigations suggest a connection between this incident and fake gold scams, which are prevalent in Nairobi’s Kilimani area. These scammers, known for their fraudulent activities, have allegedly expanded their operations to Mombasa, collaborating with port officials to carry out their schemes.
During the crackdown, one suspect was apprehended. It’s believed that this suspect is linked to fake gold scammers operating in Congo and Uganda. The multi-agency team involved in the operation collected samples of the sand found in the containers for further analysis and investigation.
This incident comes shortly after the arrest of seven suspects in Kileleshwa, Nairobi, on December 28, 2023. The suspects were accused of attempting to defraud two Malaysian nationals of Ksh2.85 billion.
“The DCI Operations Support Unit (OSU) has detained several suspects implicated in a major gold scam targeting two Malaysian nationals, and confiscated various tools of the trade linked to the Ksh2.85 billion failed fraudulence,” as stated in the report.