Kenyans have fallen prey of fake cash gang, now new details have emerged of a thriving criminal enterprise in Nairobi, which is minting billions through fake currency.
It is estimated 20 MPs are making millions of shillings from counterfeit money and gold business in Nairobi.
The MPs are said to be in a gang of local and international crooks conning gullible individuals and investors.
They include crooked police officers, fast-talking wheeler-dealers, immigration officers, bankers, high-end hotels and judicial officers.
According to a report by The Standard, they send scouts to popular tourist destinations, where they reside in presidential suites in five-star hotels and interact with the rich and famous.
The schemers then open as many as 50 Facebook accounts to serve their guises.
They also pretend to be super-rich businessmen who can assist one make instant millions of shillings in the city under the sun.
The daily reported that there are printers in Luthuli, Khoja and Kirinyaga roads, whose specialty is bulk printing of counterfeit currency.
Godfathers of the illegal trade are said to be two chief inspectors of police who operate within the international and national arena.
The counterfeiters mostly pitch camp in Parklands, Kilimani, Lavington and Eastleigh.
They smuggle the fake currency to refugee camps, South Sudan and Somalia, where people trade in US dollars.
Police revealed some of the counterfeit currency is used to finance criminal activities, such as money laundering businesses and terrorism.
In yet another case in August 2018, a South American businessman who lost 86 Million to the racketeers was hastily deported for flouting visa rules which does not allow visitors to engage in business after
The businessman flew into Nairobi in pursuit of gold he had been promised by the racketeers. However, when he realised that he had been defrauded of Sh86 million, he reported the matter at a city police station and three suspects were arrested.
However, the Brazilian was deported by Immigration officials who accused him of abusing his tourist visa as he was not supposed to work or trade in Kenya
The multiagency operations involves immigration officials who allegedly act swiftly to deport victims once they have been coned for allegedly flouting visa rules which does not allow visitors to engage in business. The racketeers scout for new victims and establish contacts.
In two separate cases that made headlines, Sh 32 Billion in fake currency was retrieved by the police during a raid at a residential house in Ruiru.
Less than a month later, a raid at Barclays Bank Queensway branch saw police net more than Sh 2 Billion in fake currency and a consignment of fake gold stashed in a saf belonging to one Mr. Eric Otieno Adede.
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