The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) apprehended eight suspects involved in USD 439 trillion fraud targeting two foreign businessmen from the Netherlands. Well this Figures has left Kenyans Building Castles in the Air, figuring out how much this amount means to them.
In a well-orchestrated operation, the DCI’s Operations Support Unit detectives traced the suspects to a warehouse in Nairobi.
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The suspects, identified as Moses Otieno, Peter Aura, Brian Waweru, John Kalombo, Peter Kisanya, Noah Ouma, Charity Njeri, and Mercy Cheptoo, were arrested on the spot.
The warehouse yielded several boxes containing fake US dollars, suspected stolen jungle fatigues for Administration Police Service officers, military boots, customs reflector jackets, and other items.
![Items recovered during the arrest of suspects linked to USD 439 trillion fraud. [Photo/DCI/X]](https://news.switchtv.ke/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Oprk9kpTURBXy9hNzc0MDlkMTlkZmY2ZjY2MDYxNGM4NDQxODgxY2FhMS5qcGeSlQMAzNTNBADNAkCTBc0DFs0Brt4AAqEwBqExAA.webp)
The mind-boggling figure of USD 439 trillion has left Kenyans scratching their heads, with many struggling to comprehend its magnitude in Kenyan shillings.
The DCI reported that the fraud targeted two foreign businessmen from the Netherlands, who were duped into believing that their consignment of 40 pallets, allegedly containing USD 4 billion, was being flown through Kenya to facilitate clearance and entry to Dubai.
This is Kamau. He does "very hard" tasks to put bread on his table.
He's wondering how someone can be having USD 439 Trillion, yet he earns Ksh 3,600 per week.
I'm also in the same situation as Kamau, but I don't care about being rich with alot of money.
To me, being rich is… pic.twitter.com/go8KVWHK97
— SUPER METRO 🇰🇪 (@marto254_) November 16, 2023
Operating under the guise of ‘Canopy Shield Agencies,’ the fraudsters contacted the victims through a WhatsApp call, posing as customs officers. The victims were informed that their consignment was held at the Kenya Customs Warehouse, and a duty fee payment of USD 36,000 was demanded.
“The first batch of 40 pallets is en route to Dubai from the Central Bank of Togo,” the callers claimed.
As the foreign nationals landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and proceeded to the warehouse, detectives swooped in, preventing the fraudsters from executing their elaborate scheme.
The world's GDP IS 96.51 Trillion how can someone be having 439Trillion
— KASSIKE🇰🇪🇱🇷 (@danielbeth1) November 16, 2023
“The operation is ongoing, with the two foreign nationals being investigatively interviewed to shed light on the business deal in question,” stated the DCI.
The reported figure has raised eyebrows, with David Ndii, the chairperson of the Presidential Council of Economic Advisers, expressing disbelief, noting that it exceeds the entire dollar circulation in Kenya.
In response to inquiries about the accuracy of the figure, the DCI asserted, “The calculation was provided by the Dutch authorities who are also involved in the investigations. We are as shocked as everyone else. Updates will follow after interrogations.”
The suspects, now in police custody, were caught in the act of convincing the victims to part with USD 36,000. The operation exposed an intricate web of deceit and has sparked widespread astonishment, prompting questions about the sophistication of fraudulent activities in the country.
