Detectives from the Operation Support
Unit (OSU) have arrested a Cameroonian national, suspected to be the
mastermind behind a sophisticated fake gold scheme that swindled a Canadian
investor of USD 618,000 (Sh80,340,000).
DCI said the scam, which
unfolded over several months, began in November 2024, when the victim, then in
Canada, was lured into what appeared to be a lucrative deal involving the
purchase of 250 kilograms of gold.
Enticed by the promise of
significant profits, the investor traveled to Kenya in April 2025 to finalise
the transaction.
“Upon arrival, he was ushered
into plush, high-end offices by an alleged business partner, an elaborate front
designed to project the illusion of a thriving, legitimate gold enterprise,”
DCI said.
The victim was then
introduced to a network of well-rehearsed con artists, and convinced of their
credibility, he handed over USD 618,000.
He would later realise
that he had been conned.
Following an official report,
investigations were launched, and detectives, through forensic leads, trailed
and arrested the suspect.
After the arrest,
detectives conducted a search in the suspect’s vehicle and residence in Belfair
Park, Dagoretti, and recovered several items.
These included gold
transaction-related documents and seals, a staff card for Sunshine Minerals Ltd
bearing the suspect’s name with the designation “Engineer Mining”, two laptops,
three mobile phones and other items linked to the scheme.
The suspect is currently
in custody, undergoing processing, as detectives pursue additional leads to
apprehend his accomplices.
The arrest comes two days
after the OSU detectives arrested four suspected gold scammers.
They were taken into custody during a raid at
a residence in Gigiri, situated along Whispers Avenue.
Detectives recovered a gold smelting machine,
an array of rubber stamps bearing the names of companies such as Alaska Express
Freight Group Ltd, Longcrane Logistics Limited, and Kakan Traders and Company,
a cache of documents bearing stamp impressions from the East African Community,
among other items.
DCI said the preliminary investigations
revealed that Alaska Express Freight Group Ltd was linked to a recent complaint
involving two Canadian nationals who were defrauded of USD 37,500 (Sh4,849,875).
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