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Detectives recover Sh350m in fake currency, gold in Ruiru


Detectives on Tuesday arrested three foreigners and confiscated more than Sh350 million in counterfeit currency and fake gold in Ruiru, Kiambu County.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers nabbed the three suspects identified as Paulin Francis, 44, Njikam Omar, 37, and Jacob Kentong, 31, and they are being held at Ruiru Police Station, as investigations continue.

The DCI detectives also recovered a Glock pistol and 28 rounds of 9mm calibre, from the three Cameroonian nationals.

Police said two of the suspects, Proper and Omar, were found to be in the country illegally while the third suspect, Kentong, holds a refugee identity card.

During the operation which was conducted in BTL area in Ruiru, the detectives also recovered a firearm and more than 250kg in fake gold nuggets and gold bars.

“Upon further interrogation of Paulin Francis, who is the main suspect, detectives raided his house in Muthaiga North where the firearm was recovered. Detailed investigations revealed that the firearm belonged to a fourth suspect Loise Kaguongo, who was holding it illegally since her firearms license had expired,” a statement from the police said.

It added that Kaguongo operated more than 10 mobile money outlets and detectives believe that she is the link between the suspects and a wider criminal syndicate that is defrauding unsuspecting members of the public.

The fake money in dollar and pound denominations had been neatly arranged and hidden in nylon bags.

According to Ruiru DCI boss, Justus Ombati, the three suspects have been using the fake money to buy goods, and are, thereafter, given legitimate currency in the form of balance.

Last month, detectives arrested a wanted suspect who allegedly defrauded a foreigner of Sh300 million in a fake gold scam

Pauline Adhiambo Odok alias Rose Omamo, who had been on the run since May last year, was arrested at Ololua, Dam Estate.

The detectives said that the suspect ran her operations by masquerading as a senior government official’s relative in order to earn the trust of her unsuspecting victims.

She is said to have convinced Southorn Chanthavong, director of Simong Group Company based in Lao, that she was in a position to sell him gold.

According to the detectives, the suspects and the victim met several times between May 8 and May 25, 2019, during which he paid Sh300 million for the gold consignment that was supposed to be delivered to his home country.

It is only after the shipment failed to arrive as planned that the victim knew he had been conned.