Two suspected masterminds of a multi-million-shilling gold scam targeting foreign investors have been arrested in Nairobi after months of what police said evading capture.
Detectives from the Operation Support Unit (OSU) apprehended the duo on August 13, 2025, in a targeted operation that brought to an end a manhunt spanning nearly a year.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the case dates back to September 2024, when two investors from Dubai reported being swindled in a fake gold deal. The victims had been lured to Kenya with the promise of purchasing 35 kilograms of gold.
“After days of negotiations, they flew into the country only to be ushered into an elaborate network of accomplices,” the DCI said. Some of those involved allegedly posed as Kenya Revenue Authority customs officers, Ministry of Mining officials, and even licensed private jet operators.
On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the investors were chauffeured to a high-end hotel in Kilimani, where the scam was allegedly formalised. Before they realised it was a con, they had lost USD 54,300.
Following the complaint, detectives launched an intensive investigation. On November 5, 2024, coordinated raids were conducted in Runda, Ridgeways, and the Industrial Area, resulting in the arrest of 31 suspects who were later arraigned.
However, the two alleged ringleaders managed to evade arrest until this week’s breakthrough. “They have been slipping through the police dragnet, but their run is now over,” the DCI said.
The suspects were presented before Milimani Law Courts No. 3 on August 14, 2025, for plea taking. They denied the charges. The case will be mentioned on August 18, 2025, when the court will determine their bond terms.
Police say investigations are ongoing to establish whether more people were involved in the scam.
