On October 1, 2026, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) raided a warehouse in Nairobi's Vision Plaza Industrial Area, arresting 14 suspects, including three serving police officers and foreign nationals from Nigeria, Cameroon, and Sudan. The raid followed a complaint lodged at JKIA Police Station by a US national identified as Alkhalifi Ibrahim Hassan. The suspects are believed to be involved in a counterfeit currency operation.
The arrested police officers are attached to the Security of Government Buildings (SGB) unit at Uhuru Camp. Two of the officers were found armed with Beretta pistols, while the third carried a Chalbi pistol. The DCI stated that the suspects include nationals from Nigeria, Cameroon, and Sudan, alongside several Kenyan citizens. The operation is believed to be a significant counterfeit currency ring.
During the raid, DCI officers recovered 31 sealed black pallets from the premises. Three of those pallets held 156 bundles of suspected counterfeit US$100 notes, while the rest contained cement. A separate black bag yielded an additional 13 bundles of the same denomination. The recovered items suggest a large-scale counterfeit currency operation.
Investigators also seized a plastic box containing 65 gold bars suspected to be fake, a box of assorted chemicals believed intended for currency production, and another box holding papers printed with US dollar designs. Further exhibits included aluminium seals, seven cartons of UN blue plastic seals, two Kenya Revenue Authority reflector jackets, two empty suitcases, a green pallet-strapping roll, a padlock cutter, and a hacksaw.
The DCI stated that the scene was processed and the exhibits secured as investigations continue to establish the circumstances surrounding the suspected counterfeit currency operation and the identities and respective roles of those involved. The 14 suspects are currently assisting investigators, with the DCI stating that appropriate legal action will follow once inquiries are concluded.
The counterfeit currency operation is not an isolated incident. Elsewhere, DCI arrested two men after uncovering a counterfeit juice operation at a homestead in Kabete. The raid revealed about 1,400 filled bottles and an expired certificate linked to a well-known juice brand. The officers also found powdery and colourless substances packed in polythene bags in 50-gram portions as well as in 200ml and 300ml bottles.
The DCI's efforts to combat counterfeit operations in Kenya are ongoing. The arrests demonstrate the authorities' commitment to cracking down on such activities. The investigations are expected to reveal more details about the counterfeit currency ring and the individuals involved.
Key points
- 14 suspects, including police officers and foreign nationals, arrested in Nairobi's Vision Plaza Industrial Area for suspected counterfeit currency operation.
- The recovered items include 156 bundles of suspected counterfeit US$100 notes and chemicals linked to currency manufacturing.
- The DCI's efforts to combat counterfeit operations in Kenya are ongoing, with further investigations and arrests expected.
