Kenyans left agape over DCI arrest of suspects linked to $439 trillion fraud
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has left Kenyans on X confused after announcing the arrest of eight suspects in Nairobi in connection with $439 trillion fraud.
DCI said in a statement that the eight suspects who are currently in custody were targeting two foreign businessmen.
According to the sleuths from the Operations Support Unit, they managed to recover several cash boxes with fake US dollars, military boots, suspected stolen jungle fatigues for Administration Police, and customs reflector jackets at a warehouse in Nairobi, during the operation.
The eight suspects have been identified as Moses Otieno, Peter Aura, Brian Waweru, John Kalombo, Peter Kisanya, Noah Ouma, Charity Njeri, and Mercy Cheptoo.
They are suspected to have intended to steal the cash from two foreign businessmen from the Netherlands.
“In this orchestrated fraudulent scheme, the foreigners were contacted through a WhatsApp call by a number registered in the name ‘Canopy Shield Agencies’, by a caller who informed them that their consignment of 40 pallets had been held at the Kenya Customs Warehouse pending duty fee payment of $36,000 (Sh5.4M),” said DCI.
According to detectives, the Dutch nationals had entered into a cash-on-transit deal involving the $439 trillion destined for Dubai from the Central Bank of Togo.
“Booking a flight to the country, the foreign nationals landed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) hoping to clear the required duty fee at once. Unbeknownst to the fraudsters that detectives had got wind of the ongoings, a contact person led the two foreigners at the warehouse where the purported consignment was being held,” the DCI said on X.
The two foreigners are also being interrogated to shed more light on the business deal that has left many shocked, going by the amount in question.
The arrest and shocking colossal amount of money which is a trending topic has ignited mixed reactions on X.
The chairperson of the Presidential Council of Economic Advisers David Ndii expressed disbelief at the reported figure, emphasising that it exceeds the dollar circulation in Kenya by a significant margin.
Questioned on the accuracy, the DCI said it was accurate and as reported by Dutch authorities who are also involved in investigations.
“H!tler hiyo hesabu ilikuja na Waholanzi. Ata sisi tuko tu hapa tunashtuka. After interrogations tuta-update any developments,” the DCI responded to an X user.
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