NAIROBI Kenya May 15 -Gold scammers are colluding with rogue Immigration Department officials to intimidate foreign businessmen and their witnesses after defrauding them.
An investigation report has revealed how some immigration officers were even placing red alerts of deporting the foreigners who have been defrauded without compelling reasons.
According to the report, the officials involved in these scams are said to receive 10 percent of the proceeds, according to a report.
In one of the cases highlighted in the report, Doreen Agani Songwa was found to have endorsed the passport of a Liberian gold fraudster with a fake E-visa at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
This was to enable him enter the country illegally, according to a letter reference IMMS/6/4/VOL.XIX(TF)/108 and dated May 2.
The Liberian together with a Chief Inspector Peter Owiyo were later charged with conspiracy to commit a felony and Stealing goods on transit -6.4kg of gold valued at USD408,420.
“From the travel history report obtained, details of the flight captured PW 614 instead of KQ 509 was meant to assist and conceal the illegal entry into the country,” according to a confidential report.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has also that the scamming in the country had reached unprecedented proportions with negative ramifications both for the reputation and economy of the country.
“While Kenya does not produce much gold, tons of the commodity are being traded through the country whereby scores of foreign gold buyers have lost millions of dollars in a scam which has continued despite efforts by the government and reports in the media,” a report reads.
“Scammers are using any means possible to intimidate foreign complaints such as threats and unjustified travel stop orders place by corrupt Immigration officers,” the report adds.
Investigations have also shown that most of the foreigners who come to buy gold are on tourist visas. “Immediately the buyer realizes that is being scammed and reports to the police, the scammers call their Immigration department contacts who are in their cartel and start proceedings to deport these foreign buyers,” the DCI said.
When some of these victims discover that the gold is fake after they have travelled back to their country, they are usually denied entry again in Kenya.
“His or her passport is stamped as ‘Prohibited Immigrant’ for 5 years. For their work, it is alleged that the Immigration officers involved in the scam receive 10 percent of the proceeds,” the confidential report reads.
In cases where genuine buyers apply for a visa to come and do gold transactions in the country the gold fraudsters will ensure that the buyer will get a tourist visa.
“Since the buyer is invited and lured by the scammers they make sure that the buyer has sent a copy of his passport which is given to corrupt immigration officers in their scamming cartel to issue tourist visas only,” the report adds.
However, if the buyer insists on a business visa, they are usually advised that the same will be obtained once they are in the country.
The fraudsters usually organize accommodation for their victims and facilitate their visit to tourist sites, among other activities, to win their confidence.
They will also ensure the buyers do not associate with the locals or their local contacts, relatives or friends.
“The scammers ensure that one of them is assigned at the hotel to monitor their movements and ensure that they do not go out unaccompanied,” the DCI said.
The fraudsters also ensure the buyers are under their full control and even have full control of the CCTV to monitor the activities of the buyer.
On May 5, a Ghanaian and a director of one of the aviation companies was arrested by the DCI’s Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) on allegations of being illegally present in Kenya.
It was later revealed that the foreigner had a valid working permit and the arrest was planned by the gold fraudsters since he was suspected to have been providing crucial information to some detectives about the fraud.
Want to send us a story? Contact Shahidi News Tel: +254115512797 (Mobile & WhatsApp)
