4 Arrested After Conning Foreign National Ksh25.8 Million in Fake Gold Scam

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested four suspects linked to a fake gold scheme at the Runda Estate in Nairobi.  

In a statement on Thursday, May 8, DCI said the four were arrested after a foreign national filed a report after being defrauded Ksh 25.8 million ($200,000). 

The suspects include: Felix Odiambo Otieno, Derrick Odhiambo Omore, Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed, and Moses Odhiambo Auma.

“The arrest of the four snake oil merchants follows a report from a foreign national who had earlier been defrauded USD 200,000 in a phony gold scheme.

“Upon receipt of the information, the detectives proceeded to a targeted dwelling house located within plot number 685 along Glory valley lane where they managed to arrest Felix Odiambo Otieno, Derrick Odhiambo Omore, Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed and Moses Odhiambo Auma as scores of other suspects managed to escape the detectives' snare,” read the DCI report in part.

The DCI detectives recovered fake gold bars weighing approximately 9.5 kgs, a weighing machine, a plastic briefcase containing an electronic gold tester machine, and other assorted items used by the suspects in the illicit trade.

“Upon search of the house, several recoveries that include fake gold bars, a weighing machine, a plastic briefcase containing an electronic gold tester machine (tester gun), assorted documents, among other items were made,” DCI stated.

The scene was processed by CSI detectives with exhibits secured and suspects kept in custody pending processing and arraignment.

This comes days after 11 suspects were arrested and 350 kgs of counterfeit gold seized by DCI detectives.

The suspects were apprehended after a victim who had been defrauded of USD 546,000 (Ksh70 million) in a fraudulent gold scheme reported to the authorities.