Detectives from the Nairobi Regional Criminal Investigations Office have successfully dismantled a sophisticated gold scamming syndicate, arresting eleven suspects and seizing 350 kilograms of counterfeit gold. The operation, which followed a report from a victim defrauded of a staggering USD 546,000, has shed light on an elaborate fraudulent network that preyed on unsuspecting individuals.
The breakthrough came after the victim reported being duped in a fraudulent gold scheme, prompting an immediate investigation. Acting on credible intelligence, the detectives traced the suspects to their hideout in Spring Valley estate, where they executed a swift operation that led to the arrest of the criminals.
Upon conducting a search at the location, law enforcement officials uncovered 305 kilograms of fake gold. The seized items also included a weighing machine and an electronic gold tester, commonly known as a Tester Gun, tools frequently used in the fraudulent process. Further investigation revealed assorted documents and a dust coat bearing the Ministry of Mining logo, which the syndicate had reportedly used to gain the trust of potential victims.
The suspects, who form a multi-national group of con artists, include seven Kenyans: Allan Zephaniah Onyango, Nicodemus Okoth, Phillip Onyango, Elmad Ochola, Shem Omollo, Edward Leonard Ochieng, and James Jeremiah Akumu. The group also consists of two Congolese nationals, Nfundiko Kamira and Lukabaya Mulamba, as well as two Cameroonian citizens, Ibrahim Nzamgou and Mike Fouapon.
Following their arrest, the suspects have been taken into custody at Capitol Hill Police Station and are currently undergoing processing, with plans for their arraignment soon.
The authorities have secured the seized fake gold and other incriminating items as exhibits, with detectives continuing their investigation into the wide-reaching scam. It is suspected that the syndicate operated a network that spanned across several regions, using their fraudulent gold operations to deceive and exploit numerous victims.
