In an operation to bust a bogus diamond racket, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) found Sh19 million in fake US dollars.
During an undercover operation by the Crime Research Bureau (CRIB) and Serious Crime detectives, the phony cash was discovered in a briefcase while the investigators were apprehending a couple suspected of defrauding a city-based management consultant out of Sh11 million in a shady diamond sale.
"Finding the deal too sweet to decline, the woman swallowed the bait and that marked the beginning of her current financial predicament."
"She was tricked into parting with colossal sums of money for license acquisition from the ministry of Mining, customs and clearance fees for the diamonds, penalties, stamps and transfer fees among other charges that kept coming up every step of the way especially when she demanded for payment."
The victim reported the crime after she realized she had been scammed of her hard-earned money, according to the DCI.
The victim was duped into paying large quantities of money for licenses from the Ministry of Mining, customs and clearance fees for the diamonds, penalties, stamps, and transfer fees, among other expenses, according to the DCI.
“By the time she realized that she was a victim of shenanigans, from the usual ‘Kanairo’ scammers who have sent many back to the village, she had lost a total of Sh11 million. Serious Crimes and CRIB detectives managed to arrest a couple, in whose accounts the funds were channeled,” the agency added.
The individuals will now face charges of acquiring money through false pretense.
