Police in Nairobi have arrested ten suspects, among them 8 Kenyans and 2 foreign nationals, for allegedly defrauding two American citizens USD 534,000 (Ksh.67.3 million).

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), in a statement released on Saturday, noted that two firearms and over 470 rounds of ammunition were also recovered during the operation.

According to the DCI, the suspects allegedly defrauded Ms. Marjorie R. Grant - who is based in Los Angeles, California - of the aforementioned amount in a fake gold scam deal.

Two of the suspects; Seth Steve Okuthe and Brunoh Otieno Oliende alias Oyugi, were nabbed in Kitisuru while the rest were apprehended within Kilimani.

The other suspects included; Kenyans Samuel Wathika Gathuru, Odhiambo Tobias Patrobas, Oketch Moses, Patrick Mugabe, Elisha Mbandi, Teddy Zamora, as well as Greek citizen Kaisarios Loamms and Indian national Siva Sakthi Veru.

“In one of the latest high-level fake gold scams in the capital, the detectives who were acting on intelligence leads arrested 8 Kenyans, one Indian and a Greek citizen in two separate raids at Nairobi’s upmarket Kitusuru and Kilimani suburbs, in one of the latest scams targeting foreign investors,” stated the DCI.

DCI sleuths recorded that Okuthe’s arrest led to Brunoh’s apprehension at his palatial home in Kitusuru, where heavy metallic boxes suspected to be used in the storage of crucial exhibits were recovered.

“Following the raid, Samuel Waithaka was found in possession of a Sigsauer P229 Pistol while his accomplice Steve Okute was found in possession of a Baretta pistol loaded with 13 rounds of 9mm ammunition,” DCI stated.

“A Gilboa rifle suspected to have been using the 5.56mm ammo was found missing during the raid.”

Closer examination by the detectives also led to the recovery of 3 laptops, suspected mineral stones coated in gold and silver colours as well as a cheque book issued by a local bank.

Other items which were also confiscated were a briefcase containing metal analyser tools, cash counting machines, rubber stamp inscribed ‘Bukule Tereno Advocates Kinshasa’ and assorted metal rods.

The sleuths later learnt that one of the suspects - Veru, the Indian national - had just arrived in the country and was about to be conned Ksh.25 million by the other suspects prior to his arrest.

The 10 suspects are currently being held in police custody awaiting arraignment as detectives continue with investigations.