KIAMBU, Kenya, May 4 – A Monday night operation saw detectives from Ruiru Sub-county in Kiambu burst an illegal foreign currency mint syndicate as well as a fake gold processing plant.
Acting on a tip off from members of the public, the sleuths also nabbed three Cameroonians who are believed to be part of a syndicate engaging in transnational organized crime.
Fake currency estimated to be worth Sh362 million was confiscated.
The cash was found stashed in iron boxes.
Detectives said the currencies were in form of US dollars and Euros.
“Detectives attached to Ruiru DCI offices raided the premises owned by one of the suspects at BTL area in the outskirts of Ruiru town on Monday evening where they nabbed the three; Paulin Francis Proper, 44, Njikam Omar 37 and Job Kentong 31, all Cameroonian nationals,” said Ruiru DCI boss Justus Ombati said.
Detectives also recovered 250kg fake gold nuggets and 70 gold bars.
The suspects were operating at a house which is still under construction and is believed to be part of the storage place and point of collection for the illegal trade.
“Though we managed to find an assorted paraphernalia including a dollar photocopying machine suspected to be used in printing the fake currency, we suspect it was being processed elsewhere.”
The sleuths believe that there might be multiple storage facilities around the area.
In one of the suspect’s Muthaiga home, detectives recovered a Glock pistol and 28 rounds of 9mm calibre ammunition.
The firearm belonged to a fourth suspect who has been identified as Loise Kaguongo, whose license has since expired.
Kaguongo, police say, is the bridge between the three other suspects and “a wider criminal syndicate.”
Preliminary investigations have revealed that she also runs 10 mobile money outlets.
Immigration officers have since been roped in to help in the ongoing investigations.
Already, the officers have established that two of the suspects are in the country illegally, while one is a registered refugee.
Residents expressed shock that an illegal business had set root in the neighbourhood.
“These people are ruining our place and the economy of our country. I had just reported to work on the construction site when I saw police arresting three people and carrying away what I was told was fake money and gold. Let justice now take its course,” a resident identified as Nicholas Odhiambo said.
Such recoveries have been made in the Ruiru, Kilimani and other parts of the country.
In February 2019, a raid in yet another home in Ruiru saw detectives seize Sh32.6 billion fake money.
They also nabbed 70 kilograms of suspected fake gold nuggets.
In September 2019, Sh300 million fake money was found abandoned on the roadside along Ngong Road, Nairobi.
In May 2019, nine suspects were arrested in the Kilimani area and fake Sh190 million recovered from them.
Still, in May 2019, a group of seven was nabbed with fake Sh300million in a house within Kilimani.
On Monday, two foreigners were also arrested with fake currency in Nyali, Mombasa county.
Police said they are part of a syndicate defrauding Kenyans.
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