Chinese Woman Swindled: DCI Busts Government Officials in Ksh 151M Mineral Scam
On Friday, investigators from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) seized two containers at the Port of Mombasa believed to hold counterfeit tantalum minerals.
The Chinese businesswoman had already paid for the containers, and they were scheduled to be sent to China. However, the new owner was unaware that it was a fraudulent scheme.
The Chinese entrepreneur reportedly placed a deposit of Ksh151 million for a single container, which was successfully transported to China. However, upon inspection, it was discovered that the container had been filled with soil instead of the expected minerals.
After the event, detectives stationed in Mombasa were alerted and promptly intercepted two additional containers with similar characteristics that were on the verge of departing from the Mombasa port to China.
When the detectives opened the containers, they discovered drums filled with soil instead of the expected tantalum minerals.
Preliminary inquiries connected the event to individuals involved in fraudulent gold schemes, primarily active in the Kilimani region of Nairobi. These scammers frequently utilize the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as a hub for carrying out their deceptive activities.
Detectives report that the fraudsters have allegedly relocated their activities to Mombasa, where they are believed to have conspired with certain port authorities to deceive unsuspecting individuals.
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In the course of the operation, authorities apprehended an individual. Detectives have reported that this person is believed to be working in collaboration with counterfeit gold fraudsters operating in Congo and Uganda.
The team comprised of multiple agencies gathered sand samples for additional analysis.
Just under a month ago, specifically on December 28, 2023, individuals were apprehended by DCI officers in Kileleshwa, Nairobi. They were alleged to be involved in a plot to swindle two Malaysian citizens out of Ksh2.85 billion.
The DCI revealed in a statement that the individuals under investigation were collaborating with two security guards employed by a well-known security company, one from Congo, and four from Kenya.
“The DCI Operations Support Unit (OSU) has arrested several suspects involved in a mega gold scam that targeted two Malaysian nationals, and recovered multiple tools of trade involved in the Ksh2.85 billion botched fraudulence,” read part of the statement.
Chinese Woman Swindled: DCI Busts Government Officials in Ksh 151M Mineral Scam