Police officers have arrested a suspected mastermind leading a group of fraudsters posing as merchants linked to the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Nairobi.
Mary Njoki Ng’ang’a, alias Dr Susan, is currently under arrest after she and her accomplices robbed a Kenyan living in the United States of over Sh30 million in a phony drug supply scam.
In the most recent case of high-level fraud targeting Kenyans in the United States, a guy who had already lost Sh30 million was about to lose another Sh20 million before getting cold feet and reporting to police.
Serious Crimes detectives apprehended while she waited for her victim to give Sh20 million in cash in exchange for a shipment of supposed cancer treatment drugs she had in her possession.
The woman, who was enjoying the security of a rogue police officer/driver, was caught on Monday near the Suppers and Dinners restaurant in the upscale Hurligham suburban residential area, in a well-laid trap by serious crimes detectives.
The cop, who was accompanied by two other officers, attempted to resist arrest, but later cooperated while his accomplices fled the area.
The victim, Wallace, an American of Kenyan heritage, had been tricked into thinking he had won a UNOPS tender for the provision of Eloxatin, a medicine used in the treatment of stage three colon cancer.
The woman, who was enjoying the security of a rogue police officer/driver, was caught on Monday near the Suppers and Dinners restaurant in the upscale Hurligham suburban residential area, in a well-laid trap by serious crimes detectives.
The cop, who was accompanied by two other officers, attempted to resist arrest, but later cooperated while his accomplices fled the area.
Fake Tender
The victim, Wallace, an American of Kenyan heritage, had been tricked into thinking he had won a UNOPS tender for the provision of Eloxatin, a medicine used in the treatment of stage three colon cancer.
This comes after a Nairobi-based scammer was introduced to a Whatsapp group of Kenyans living in the United States, where he pretended to be a UNOPS wheeler-dealer with contacts to help with the supply of supplies.
Wallace became intrigued and travelled to Nairobi to speak with an alleged top UNOPS procurement official. Wallace was met by the official, who introduced herself as Leah Wanjiru, at the TRM mall on Thika Road.
As Wallace was incorporated into the UNOPS supply system, they had coffee at TRM’s JAVA cafe.
The victim was directed to a UNOPS-managed supplies portal and told that she needed to register since all tenders will be posted there.
Wallace signed up and was confident that the portal was genuine because Leah had also driven into TRM in a vehicle with diplomatic license plates.
Detectives eventually discovered that the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Nairobi was not associated with such a portal after further examination.
A tender for 1,000 Cancer Eloxatin vials was put on the website after some time. Wallace got a call from Leah, who informed him that he had won the tender.
He was told, however, that UNOPS only accepted Eloxatin from Kenyan licensed pharmacists, and he was directed to a man named Dr Moses Otieno, who would sell him the drug.
He was first required to deliver a sample from Dr Otieno that had been certified as genuine.
Wallace was first asked to deliver 250 vials, which Dr. Otieno would sell to him for $560 per vial in a well-planned and organized operation.
He’d then sell the vials to UNOPS for $1,000 each, generating a profit of $440 per vial! Wallace was caught in the trap hook, line, and sinker.
He made the initial supply, but not before enlisting the help of a lawyer to witness the transaction.
Later, while his payment was being processed, he was asked to provide another 250 vials. He made preparations with his bank on Kimathi Street and took out Sh20 million, which he provided to Dr. Otieno for the second consignment’s supply.
The lawyer who had seen the first deal was invited to see the second one as well. Detectives have tracked him down to a high-end coastal resort in Kikambala.
When Wallace requested payment, the smooth-talking procurement official told him that he needed to finish supplying the remaining 500 vials before his payment could be processed, which would take 14 days.
She even offered to speak with Dr. Otieno about giving him the medications on credit in exchange for his money being sent into his accounts as soon as possible.
The cons went underground after 14 days, and Wallace’s attempts to locate them were fruitless.
Wallace had lost approximately Sh30 million to the crooks by the time he reported to our headquarters.
Wallace received a phone call from Mary Njoki Ng’ang’a alias Dr Susan on December 27, shortly after Christmas, offering to give him with Eloxatin vials worth Sh20 million.
The duo was cornered at the parking lot of Suppers and Dinners restaurant in Hurlingham while waiting for the Sh20 million.
A total of 550 vials containing Eloxatin were discovered. For analysis, samples were forwarded to a government chemist.
Meanwhile, while investigators complete their investigations, the suspect remains in custody.
According to the service’s standing orders, police constable Ogetii is currently facing disciplinary action.
