Police detain two Bulgarian suspects found with machine used to make fake ATM cards

Police in Diani, Kwale County have arrested two Bulgarians suspected of engaging in fraudulent activities.

Dimitar Velicov Hristiv (44) and Borislan Todorov Todorov (43) were arrested on Friday with fake credit cards, three laptops and machines used to make counterfeit money.

Msambweni OCPD Joseph Omijah said the two were initially suspected to be drug dealers and police were hunting for them.

“We have arrested two suspects who are from Bulgaria. Earlier we got a tip that they were dealing in drugs,” said Mr Omijah.

He said police tracked them down on Friday and managed to arrest Hristiv trying to withdraw some money at Ukunda Equity Bank branch while one of his accomplice was waiting inside a white personal car.

Omijah said when police pounced on Hristiv, the man inside the car sped off towards Likoni and disappeared.

“We found the suspect with many credit cards. We managed to establish where he was staying with another friend and headed there where we found three laptops and a machine for making fake credit cards,” he said.

The OCPD said the two foreigners are well known fraudsters who target unsuspecting people withdrawing money at ATMS.

“Investigations reveal that these people seem to have arrived in Ukunda on 13th and stayed at Wayside hotel before moving to different hotels.”

“After arresting Dimitar, we decided to lay ambush at the same spot we nabbed him to see if we can nab his other accomplice. At around 8 we saw someone and pounced on him. The man is identified as Bonslav,” he said.

From their passports, the police chief said the two men seem to be frequent visitors in Kenya and Tanzania.

They have also been booking several hotels and using different cars to hide their trail.

“These people are using various vehicles  bearing Tanzanian number plates for guise purposes,” Omijah said.

According to police, the suspects hoover around ATMS and swerve their fake cards immediately a client leaves a booth so as to capture their personal details.

The details are then used to make fake credit cards which are used in fraudulent activities.

To counter the problem, police has sought the help of a special police banking fraud unit from Mombasa. Meanwhile the two suspects are being held at Diani Police Station.