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Crime & Investigations

Gold Scammer David Onyango Ochanda Arrested in Ksh29.3 Million Heist

by Daily Trends
written by Daily Trends

In a significant breakthrough, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Operations Support Unit have arrested David Onyango Ochanda, a notorious figure implicated in a sophisticated gold scam that defrauded an American investor of Ksh 29.3 million (USD 225,968.64).

The arrest, announced on Friday, August 15, 2025, marks a critical step in combating the rising tide of financial crimes in East Africa.

The Elaborate Scheme Unraveled

The scam, which dates back to April 3, 2024, began when the unsuspecting investor arrived in Kenya to finalize a deal for the purchase of 3,370 kilograms of gold.

Lured into a seemingly legitimate transaction, the investor was escorted to an office at Gate 53, Chalbi Drive in Lavington, Nairobi, where he signed a Sales and Purchase Agreement.

To bolster the illusion of authenticity, the scammers staged a smelting process at the seller’s agent’s office, a tactic increasingly documented in gold fraud cases across the region.

The plot thickened on April 25, 2024, when the investor was introduced to Toureg Insurance Brokers Limited, a registered Kenyan brokerage overseen by the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA).

David Onyango Ochanda, identified as the director of the company and the signatory to the account that received the funds, presented the firm as the entity responsible for insuring the gold during transit.

An addendum to the original agreement was signed, inflating the invoice to USD 226,012.76, of which USD 225,968.64 was wired by the investor on April 29, 2024. The gold, however, never materialized.

Coordinated Sting Operation

Today’s arrest followed a meticulously planned operation by DCI detectives, who had long had Ochanda on their radar.

The suspect is currently in custody and undergoing processing, with arraignment scheduled for Monday, August 18, 2025.

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Crime & Investigations

Kenyan Lawyer and Associates Arrested in $618,000 Fraud as DCI Cracks Down on Transnational Gold Scam

by Daily Trends
written by Daily Trends

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has intensified its efforts against transnational gold fraud syndicates, responsible for defrauding foreign investors of hundreds of thousands of dollars through elaborate fake gold schemes.

In an ongoing investigation, detectives from the Operations Support Unit (OSU) have arrested Michael Otieno Owano, an advocate and proprietor of Otieno M.O. Law Advocates, for his role in a high-stakes scam that defrauded a Canadian investor of USD 618,000.

The victim was lured into a fake gold export deal involving 250 kilograms of gold, allegedly set for shipment to Dubai aboard a private jet. On April 15, 2025, a Proforma Invoice of USD 318,400 was issued by EAI Logistics, with the funds wired to Owano’s law firm account. He was later asked to send an additional USDT 300,000 to a cryptocurrency wallet, but no gold was ever delivered.

Owano’s arrest follows the earlier arrest of Francis Talla Ouafo, also known as Allain, a Cameroonian national believed to be the mastermind of the syndicate. He was arraigned on July 31, 2025, at the Milimani Chief Magistrate’s Court.

In a separate but similarly orchestrated scam, Lupemba Lorenzi Olivier, a Congolese national, appeared at the Milimani Law Courts in connection with a fraudulent gold deal targeting a Gabonese investor. Detectives secured a seven-day custodial order to finalise investigations. The matter is scheduled for mention on August 13, 2025.

Meanwhile, another suspect, Kelvin Otieno Onyango, alias Kevo Sonko, the alleged director of SwiftTaxis Logistics Ltd, was arrested for his role in the same case. The complainant was led to his office, where they negotiated and formalised the gold deal. He later transferred USD 140,000 into an escrow account.

All the suspects are currently in custody, undergoing processing pending their arraignment in court, as DCI intensifies efforts to dismantle the networks behind these sophisticated gold scams.

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Crime & Investigations

4 Fake Gold Merchants Arrested in Runda After Scamming Foreigner Ksh25M

by Daily Trends
written by Daily Trends

Four fake gold merchants have been arrested in Runda estate by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), drawn from Nairobi region and Gigiri Police Station.

During the arrest, 9.5 Kg of fake gold was recovered. Assorted items that the suspects have been using to scam people were also recovered.

“A combined team of DCI officers drawn from the Nairobi region and DCI Gigiri have arrested four fake gold merchants at Runda estate and recovered fake gold bars weighing approximately 9.5 kgs and assorted items that the suspects have been using in their illicit trade,” DCI said in a statement issued on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

Their arrest follows a report that was made by a foreign national who had been earlier deruaded of Ksh 20 million (USD 200,000).

Those arrested are Felix Odiambo Otieno, Derrick Odhiambo Omore, Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed and Moses Odhiambo Auma.

“The arrest of the four snake oil merchants follows a report from a foreign national who had earlier been defrauded USD 200,000 in a phony gold scheme,” the DCI stated.

“Upon receipt of the information, the detectives proceeded to a targeted dwelling house located within plot number 685 along Glory valley lane where they managed to arrest Felix Odiambo Otieno, Derrick Odhiambo Omore, Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed and Moses Odhiambo Auma as scores of other suspects managed to escape the detectives’ snare.”

Upon search of the house, several recoveries that include fake gold bars, a weighing machine, a plastic briefcase containing an electronic gold tester machine (tester gun), assorted documents among other items were made.

Subsequently, the scene was processed by CSI detectives, exhibits secured and suspects kept in custody pending processing and arraignment.

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