In a major breakthrough, detectives in Nairobi have dismantled a criminal syndicate involved in a large-scale gold scam that defrauded a victim of approximately KSh70 million. The operation, carried out by the Nairobi Regional Criminal Investigations Office, led to the arrest of 11 suspects, including both local and foreign nationals, and the seizure of counterfeit gold weighing 350 kilograms.
The series of events that led to the arrest began when a victim, lured by promises of a lucrative gold transaction, was conned into parting with USD 546,000 (around KSh70.9 million). The victim had been led to believe they were purchasing genuine gold, only to later discover that they had been scammed. The gold they received was found to be fake, and the perpetrators had carefully orchestrated a deceptive operation that involved counterfeit gold and fraudulent dealings.
Acting on reliable intelligence, the detectives tracked the suspects to their hideout in Spring Valley estate, where they executed a well-planned raid. Upon searching the premises, the investigators recovered 305 kilograms of counterfeit gold. In addition, the authorities seized several tools commonly used in the fraudulent gold trade, including a weighing machine and an electronic gold tester, also known as a Tester Gun, which helped the criminals pass off their fake gold as genuine.
The suspects’ operation was highly sophisticated, as they had documents and equipment designed to deceive their victims. One of the items recovered during the raid was a dust coat emblazoned with the Ministry of Mining logo. The authorities believe this item was used by the criminals to gain the trust of potential victims by falsely presenting themselves as legitimate gold dealers associated with government agencies.
The suspects, described as a “multi-national mix of con artists,” included seven Kenyans Allan Zephaniah Onyango, Nicodemus Okoth, Phillip Onyango, Elmad Ochola, Shem Omollo, Edward Leonard Ochieng, and James Jeremiah Akumu. In addition, two individuals from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nfundiko Kamira and Lukabaya Mulamba, were arrested, along with two Cameroonian nationals, Ibrahim Nzamgou and Mike Fouapon.
The authorities are continuing to investigate the syndicate, and further arrests are expected as more information comes to light. The detectives believe that the group had been operating for some time, targeting unsuspecting individuals and businesses involved in the gold trade, both within Kenya and beyond its borders.
The case highlights the growing issue of fraud in the gold trade, especially in regions where demand for precious metals is high. While the arrest of the syndicate has dealt a significant blow to the operation, the authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant when engaging in transactions involving precious metals. As the investigation unfolds, the detectives are working to identify other victims and bring additional perpetrators to justice.
This incident serves as a reminder of the risks associated with the gold trade, particularly in a market where fake gold and fraudulent schemes are becoming increasingly common. Law enforcement agencies continue to work on measures to curb such crimes and protect consumers from similar scams in the future.
