DCI detectives arrest two suspects in Kilimani with Sh750m fake currencies By Winfridah Muthee

By Winfridah Muthee

Detectives based at DCI-Kilimani, Nairobi, on Wednesday morning, discovered fake currencies totaling to hundreds of millions of shillings, at a house in Makaazi apartments, in the upmarket Kilimani neighborhood.

A total of 6.8Million fake US dollars, 490,000 fake Euros, and 6.4 Million Kenya Shillings was recovered stashed in metal boxes, in the early morning raid that saw two suspects, Samuel Maina and Boniface Mungai arrested.

Also recovered were jerry cans with an unknown liquid, DeLaRue branded badges and a seal, all suspected to be used in printing of the fake currencies. Assorted documents, customs reflector jackets, United Nations and National Treasury stickers were also confiscated.

The suspects were placed in custody as crime scene detectives combed the apartment for more clues, in what appeared to be a well-coordinated, fake currency syndicate.

The recovery of the fake currency, followed a report filed by a concerned member of the public, through the DCI toll free line 0800722203.

There is a high rate of crime in all regions of Kenya, particularly in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

In May 2019, still in Kilimani nine suspects were arrested and Sh190 million ($1.9M) fake money was recovered from them.

Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has in the past acknowledged the possibility of a transnational fake currency ring in Nairobi and the region.

DCI urges the public to use their toll free line should they have any information that may assist them in the fight against crime.

Kenya crime rate and statistics by Macro Trends indicates that in 2018 crime was 4.93, a 0.37% increase from 2017 and 4.91 in 2017 a 1.93% increase from 2016.