Detectives from the Operation Support Unit (OSU) have arrested a Cameroonian national, suspected to be the mastermind behind a sophisticated fake gold scheme that swindled a Canadian investor of USD 618,000 (Sh80,340,000).
DCI said the scam, which unfolded over several months, began in November 2024, when the victim, then in Canada, was lured into what appeared to be a lucrative deal involving the purchase of 250 kilograms of gold.
Enticed by the promise of significant profits, the investor traveled to Kenya in April 2025 to finalise the transaction.
“Upon arrival, he was ushered into plush, high-end offices by an alleged business partner, an elaborate front designed to project the illusion of a thriving, legitimate gold enterprise,” DCI said.
The victim was then introduced to a network of well-rehearsed con artists, and convinced of their credibility, he handed over USD 618,000.
He would later realise that he had been conned.
Following an official report, investigations were launched, and detectives, through forensic leads, trailed and arrested the suspect.
After the arrest, detectives conducted a search in the suspect’s vehicle and residence in Belfair Park, Dagoretti, and recovered several items.
These included gold transaction-related documents and seals, a staff card for Sunshine Minerals Ltd bearing the suspect's name with the designation “Engineer Mining”, two laptops, three mobile phones and other items linked to the scheme.
The suspect is currently in custody, undergoing processing, as detectives pursue additional leads to apprehend his accomplices.
The arrest comes two days after the OSU detectives arrested four suspected gold scammers.
They were taken into custody during a raid at a residence in Gigiri, situated along Whispers Avenue.
Detectives recovered a gold smelting machine, an array of rubber stamps bearing the names of companies such as Alaska Express Freight Group Ltd, Longcrane Logistics Limited, and Kakan Traders and Company, a cache of documents bearing stamp impressions from the East African Community, among other items.
DCI said the preliminary investigations revealed that Alaska Express Freight Group Ltd was linked to a recent complaint involving two Canadian nationals who were defrauded of USD 37,500 (Sh4,849,875).
