Detectives drawn from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Thursday, April 4, arrested the prime suspect behind the Ksh151 Million Tantalum Mineral scam at the Port of Mombasa.
The suspect, a Congolese citizen, was arrested by the DCI's Operations Support Unit (OSU) moments after touching down from Entebbe, Uganda.
According to detectives, the suspect was nabbed along Harambee Avenue in Nairobi, minutes after evading detection by Immigration officials at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
“Determined to sneak back into the country and further his felonious activities, the suspect used a Ugandan Interstate pass card and upon arrest was also found in possession of yet another Congolese Passport,” detectives stated.
The suspect was arrested on the accusation of scamming a Chinese citizen Ksh151 Milion in a fake mineral supply. The Chinese citizen had agreed with the suspect for the supply of tantalum minerals.
Three containers declared to contain tantalum minerals were opened in China, only to be found loaded with drums of sand, triggering investigations at the port of Mombasa.
“Detectives have since discovered that already, two more containers had been cleared and shipped to Dubai, and efforts are underway to intercept them,” DCI noted.
Detectives further noted that investigations had been launched on some port officials believed to have compromised security checks to facilitate the illegal transactions.
Meanwhile, the bank account where the Ksh151 million was deposited has since been frozen even as investigations continue.
However, detectives noted that despite freezing the Ksh151 million, the suspect colluded with suspected rogue bank officials and obtained Ksh49 million.
Following his arrest, the suspect is set to be arraigned at the Miliman Law Courts on Friday, April 5.
"Even as investigations regarding the fake consignment continue, a court battle between OSU detectives and influential members of the scamming ring is underway," read part of a statement by DCI.
