By Frank Kamuntu
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Kenya have arrested five suspects in a gold scam that saw two foreign nationals lose Ksh15.5 million.
The country’s DCI, in a statement, revealed that the five were nabbed for defrauding a Romanian and Swiss national who raised the alarm about the heinous scheme.
Two of the five suspects were women while one of them was alleged to be the mastermind of the whole ordeal. All of them were accosted at different hideouts.
“The five include the mastermind and alleged CEO of AFREX Bridge Connections Ltd Lamarca J. Benjamin alias Morlon Jean Emmanuel, Samson Kibet Sirkoi, Lucy Gitonga, Rose Kambua and Justine Adhiambo, 25, who were all nabbed at different hideouts within the country,” stated the DCI in part.
In the complaint filed at Wilson Airport Police Station on January 29, 2025, the complainants alleged to have been approached by a contact person who informed them that the prime suspect was in the business of selling 550kg of gold.
The gold was purportedly stored at a godown in Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) awaiting clearance. Once the payment of USD 120,000 (Ksh15.5 million) was made, it was to be transported on January 20, 2025.
“Diving into the crafty machinations of the ring of scammers believed to be wallowing in the miasma of deceit for years, the complainants made the full payment, only to be taken in circles thereafter.
“Launching investigations, detectives raided AFREX Bridge Connections Ltd offices where a number of crucial evidence was collected, and the first two suspects; Lucy Gitonga and Rose Kambua arrested,” added DCI.
On January 31, 34-year-old Samson Kibet Sirkoi was also taken into custody, before the officers proceeded to Mount Kenya Wildlife Estate in Nanyuki’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy on February 2, where Lamarca alias Morlon and Justine Adhiambo were arrested at a house there.
In addition to the suspects, authorities confiscated key items, including two Glock pistols, a pair of handcuffs, and a silver Toyota Landcruiser V8.
“From therein, two Glock Pistols, 96 rounds of 9mm ammunition, a pair of handcuffs, a laptop make Apple, one MacBook and 6 expired mineral licences were confiscated. Also recovered was a motor vehicle Reg. No KCW 880M make Toyota Landcruiser V8 silver in colour among other assorted documents,” added the DCI.
The two suspects were then escorted to Riverside Pearl residence in Kileleshwa within Nairobi at Lamarca’s residence, where more exhibits were found including three 9mm tracer bullets, 14 smoke grenades, a bulletproof vest and assorted seals and stamps.
The Firearms Licensing Board has since confirmed that the said Lamarca alias Morlon is not a licensed firearm holder.
Whereas Lucy and Kambua were earlier arraigned and the investigators granted custodial orders to complete investigations, the remaining suspects are scheduled for arraignment on February 5.
