How Fake SHA Registration Exposed Suspected SIM-Swap Fraudster in Mtwapa

A suspected SIM-swap fraudster accused of targeting members of the public, particularly elderly people, through a fake Social Health Authority (SHA) registration exercise has been arrested in Mtwapa, Kilifi County.

In a statement on Tuesday, September 22, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the suspect, identified as 37-year-old Phyllis Njagi, was arrested during a joint intelligence-led operation conducted by detectives from Kilifi South and Nyali.

The investigation followed intelligence on a group allegedly moving across several parts of the country while posing as government officials conducting SHA registration.

"The operation followed intelligence indicating that a woman and two men had been moving around Mwea, Machakos, Kitui, Mwingi and other areas, posing as government employees conducting Social Health Authority (SHA) registration and targeting unsuspecting members of the public," the statement read.

According to the DCI, the group is suspected of using the personal information obtained during the fraudulent registration exercise to facilitate SIM swaps and access victims' mobile money accounts and other digital wallets.

"The suspects would allegedly exploit the registration exercise to obtain victims’ personal details, swap their SIM cards and gain access to their mobile money and other digital wallets, from where they would transfer funds to accounts under their control," the statement added.

Acting on the intelligence, detectives mounted an ambush in the Kwa Chief area of Mtwapa, where they arrested Njagi.

At the time of her arrest, Njagi was driving a Mazda CX-5 bearing registration number KDT 012M. 

The vehicle was detained by detectives for further examination as investigations into the suspected fraud network continued.

A search of the vehicle also led to the recovery of several insurance certificates and number-plate casings, which detectives are examining as part of the investigation.

"A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of five insurance certificates bearing registration number KDT 012M, two duplicate insurance certificates for motor vehicle KDP 019N, three insurance certificates for motor vehicle KDS 150J, and two number-plate casings," the statement further read.

However, the DCI said Njagi's suspected accomplice, John Mutesa Mango, escaped during the operation and remains at large.

The DCI has since appealed to members of the public with information that could help detectives locate Mango to come forward.

"Detectives are now appealing to members of the public to help identify and trace Mango, whose photograph is displayed alongside that of his arrested accomplice, Phyllis Njagi," the statement concluded.

Elsewhere, police officers in Nakuru have recovered bhang valued at approximately Ksh7.2 million after a road accident exposed an illicit drug trafficking operation along the Nakuru-Nairobi Highway.

In a statement on Monday, September 21, the DCI said the consignment was discovered after an SUV carrying the narcotics was involved in a crash between Shinners Boys and the Mbaruk area. 

According to preliminary findings by the agency, the driver was attempting to overtake when the vehicle lost control and collided with an oncoming trailer.

"Preliminary investigations indicate that a Mazda CX-5, registration number KDW 640U, which was travelling from Nakuru towards Nairobi, attempted to overtake before the driver lost control and collided with an oncoming Scania trailer," the statement read.

According to the DCI, the collision caused significant damage to the SUV, particularly its front section. 

The driver, however, reportedly escaped from the scene before officers arrived, leaving the damaged vehicle and its cargo behind.

"The impact caused the SUV to spin and sustain extensive damage to its front section. However, the driver abandoned the wreckage and fled the scene, leaving behind cargo that would soon reveal a drug trafficking operation," the statement added.

Officers processing the accident scene subsequently inspected the abandoned Mazda, where they made a discovery that transformed the crash investigation into a narcotics trafficking case.

"During scene processing, officers discovered six sacks of bhang inside the Mazda CX-5. The recovered narcotics weighed 241.5 kilogrammes with an estimated street value of Ksh7,245,000," the statement further read.