Three police officers among 14 arrested in fake currency, gold scam raid

• The operation, conducted on October 1, 2026, followed a complaint by a US national, Alkhalifi Ibrahim Hassan, which was recorded at the JKIA Police Station.

File image of the entrance of DCI Headquarters along Kiambu Road.

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) based at JKIA have arrested 14 suspects, including three serving police officers and foreign nationals, in a raid on a warehouse in Nairobi’s Vision Plaza Industrial Area where suspected counterfeit US currency, fake gold bars and materials believed to be used in the production of forged banknotes were recovered.

The operation, conducted on October 1, 2026, followed a complaint by a US national, Alkhalifi Ibrahim Hassan, which was recorded at the JKIA Police Station.

The suspects include nationals of Kenya, Nigeria, Cameroon and Sudan, as well as three officers attached to the Security of Government Buildings (SGB) at Uhuru Camp.

According to the DCI, detectives searched the warehouse located behind Vision Plaza and recovered 31 sealed black pallets. Three of the pallets contained 156 bundles of US$100 notes suspected to be counterfeit, while the remaining pallets contained cement.

Detectives also seized a plastic box containing 65 pieces of gold bars suspected to be fake, assorted chemicals believed to be intended for manufacturing counterfeit currency, and papers printed with US dollar notes.

Police also recovered a black bag containing 13 additional bundles of suspected counterfeit US$100 notes, along with assorted aluminium seals, seven cartons of UN blue plastic seals, two Kenya Revenue Authority reflector jackets, and two empty suitcases.

Other items recovered included a green pallet-strapping roll, a padlock cutter and a hacksaw.

The three police officers arrested were identified as Corporal Joseph Otenyo Okimba, Administration Police Constable Douglas O. Odira and Administration Police Constable Felix Oyawa Odhiambo.

The other suspects are Anthony Oyieka Namani, a Nigerian; Soulemanou, a Cameroonian; Abbas Ibrahim Mohamed, a Sudanese; George Kinyanjui, Geofrey Omondi Juma, William Kimolo, Solomon Ndeda, Raphael Wayaya, Kevin Barasa, Erick Honla and Maureen Ogany.

The DCI said two of the arrested officers were armed with Beretta pistols while their alleged accomplice carried a Chalbi pistol at the time of the raid.

The scene was processed and the recovered items secured as detectives investigate the suspected counterfeit currency operation and seek to establish the respective roles of those arrested.

The 14 suspects remain in police custody as investigations continue, with the DCI saying appropriate legal action will follow upon completion of the inquiry.