Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested a Cameroonian national believed to be the mastermind behind a multi-million shilling fake gold scam targeting a Canadian investor.
The suspect, arrested by officers from the elite Operation Support Unit (OSU), is accused of conning the foreign investor out of Ksh79.9 million (USD 618,000) in a fraudulent gold transaction.
According to a police report, the victim was first approached in November 2024 while still in Canada with an offer to buy 250 kilograms of gold. Enticed by the lucrative deal, the investor agreed to travel to Kenya in April 2025 to finalise the transaction.
Upon arrival, the Canadian was received and taken to high-end offices, complete with professional staff and luxurious settings—all part of a sophisticated front meant to give the appearance of a legitimate gold business.
The investor was then introduced to a group of well-coordinated fraudsters who convinced him of the authenticity of the transaction. Convinced, he handed over Ksh79.9 million (USD618,000) as payment for the gold.
It was only later that the investor discovered he had fallen victim to a scam, prompting him to report the matter to the police. A team of detectives launched investigations and tracked down the suspect through forensic leads.
The suspect was arrested in Dagoretti, Nairobi, and a search was conducted in his vehicle and residence at Belfair Park. During the operation, detectives recovered several items linked to the scheme.
Among the recovered items were gold trade-related documents and seals, two laptops, three mobile phones, and a staff ID card from a company bearing the suspect’s name and the title “Engineer Mining.”
The suspect is currently in police custody as detectives continue with investigations and pursue other individuals believed to be part of the wider gold fraud syndicate.
In April this year, detectives dismantled a gold scamming syndicate where a total of 11 individuals were nabbed with a haul of counterfeit gold.
The syndicate comprised individuals from different nationalities, including seven Kenyans, two Congolese nationals, and two Cameroonian citizens.
According to the DCI, the detectives sprang into action after the syndicate defrauded an unsuspecting individual of Ksh70 million (USD 546,000).
The suspects were trailed and nabbed in their hideout at Spring Valley estate, with detectives conducting a search and recovering a haul of fake gold weighing 305kg. Also recovered at the scene were a weighing machine and an electronic gold tester.
