Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Wednesday raided a private house in Kileleshwa, Nairobi County, and arrested seven suspects accused of planning to defraud two Malaysian nationals of Ksh2.85 billion.
In a statement, DCI revealed that the suspects were working in cahoots with 2 security guards from a renowned security firm, a Congolese, and 4 Kenyans.
"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.
According to the detectives, the suspects had been working with two Cameroonians to defraud the foreigners of Ksh2.85 billion by selling them fake gold.
However, acting on an intelligence report from the Kilimani Sub-County Criminal Investigations Officer, the detectives scrambled a surveillance team to track the group's activities when the suspects jetted into the country.
The detectives followed the suspects as they picked up the buyers from their hotel, and drove towards a secluded residence in Kileleshwa. Unaware of the imminent capture, the suspects led the officers directly to their destination.
When the suspects spotted the detectives arriving at the compound, some of them, made a desperate attempt to evade arrest. Swiftly responding, the detectives pursued the fleeing culprits and arrested them.
"The scene was processed and several exhibits recovered including metallic boxes, 84 gold coated metallic bars, smelting tools, computers, documents & stamps from an international company and several uniforms from the security firm," read part of the statement.
The detectives also seized five vehicles believed to have been stolen in various parts of the country. The suspects are currently being held in custody awaiting arraignment.
In October, DCI also arrested a trio involved in yet another gold scam. The trio was accused of planning to defraud a foreigner of Ksh5 million.
The suspects, a watchman and 2 ladies arrested in Runda were linked to a popular senator. The politician, however, refuted the allegations and distanced himself from the saga.
"They are tarnishing my name and deforming my character and that is something that I want to take legal action against so that we can stop this nonsense," the politician remarked.
