Detectives seize 31 boxes of fake gold bars hidden at Swissport Cargo Services’ strong room at JKIA
Detectives attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have busted a fake gold syndicate and intercepted metals resembling gold bars hidden at the Swissport Transit Freight Station at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
In what points to an intricate web of scammers, the DCI said they have uncovered that the multi-million shilling conspiracy is executed with the assistance of various agencies, including some government institutions.
The bogus consignment concealed in 31 boxes received from Uganda.
However, Swissport management did not respond to our queries on the identity of the individuals the investigators termed as “shadowy businessmen” who booked the scamming cargo.
“The fake gold bars concealed in 31 boxes received from Uganda, had been stored at the airport by shadowy businessmen, dealing in the lucrative gold business on the pretext that it was cargo awaiting transit to different destinations across the world.” An update from the DCI read in part.
Ordinarily, cargo freight dealers require the particulars of the consigner, consignee, inventory and nature of items and commodities contained therein as a mandatory standard operating procedure.
According to sleuths who undertook the sting operation, phoney traders settled on Swissport Freight, since it provides ground and cargo handling services in major airports across the globe.
Investigators said the dubious gold scam trade has seen many businessmen from across the world lose hundreds of millions of shillings.
The cons have been luring unsuspecting investors to view the gold at the customs offices at JKIA, the region’s preferred international aviation hub.
Once at the airport, a prospective buyer is lured to Swissport’s strong room, where what appears to be genuine gold bars are displayed.
The client is advised that once the transaction is completed, the gold will be shipped to any destination of his choice across the globe.
“However, immediately the buyer is convinced that the transaction is above board and makes payments including customs and shipping costs, that marks the beginning of his tribulations.” The DCI added.
In one such deal gone sour, a businessman lost over Sh34 million to the tricksters, who immediately went underground after they received the payments.
In a well-coordinated and orchestrated scheme that detectives have been monitoring closely, the fraudsters began by acquiring posh premises in high end estates, guarded round the clock by police officers.
It is in these upmarket establishments, where they perfected the art of international organised gold scam fraud, by luring unsuspecting genuine investors from across the world to part with millions of money in exchange of fake gold.
