DCI seizes luxury car bought with Sh37 million gold scam cash as investigation intensifies

Fake Gold Scam. [File, Standard] Detectives have towed from Mombasa a V8 vehicle allegedly bought using proceeds of a Sh37 million gold scam to Central Police Station in Nairobi, as investigations into the elaborate fraud targeting a US national deepen. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the vehicle was purchased in cash by the prime suspect, Paul Chogo, before being registered in a relative's name in an attempt to conceal ownership. According to detectives, two suspects were arrested while in possession of the vehicle and are set to be arraigned in court today on charges of aiding crime. The DCI has since classified the V8 as proceeds of crime. Investigators said the two were arrested in Mombasa shortly after money had allegedly been handed over to the car seller. Chogo, however, managed to evade arrest and remains on the run. According to the DCI, efforts are ongoing to track him down alongside other suspects, including Collins Opande and Kevin Otieno. As part of the widening probe, detectives also executed court orders to open five safe boxes seized from Oasis Maralal Apartments in Kilimani, Nairobi, which is the location believed to be the nerve centre of the fraud syndicate. The apartment, which, according to the investigators, was used as an office to lure unsuspecting victims, is the same location where US commodities trader Dave White was allegedly conned out of Sh37 million in December last year. Upon opening the safes, detectives recovered two additional brass items allegedly used to deceive victims into believing they were dealing in gold. A third suspect, Solomon Mwandanda, has since surrendered and recorded a statement with detectives. The latest developments come days after the DCI uncovered how White was drawn into the carefully choreographed gold scam. White had travelled to Nairobi on December 3, 2025, after being contacted online by Chogo, who presented himself as an independent gold dealer representing community miners. The two met at the Sarit Centre mall, where they negotiated a deal for 150 kilogrammes of gold, with an initial transaction of 50 kilogrammes. White was required to pay 2.5 per cent of the purchase price, quoted at USD 75,000 per kilogramme, to cover shipping, insurance, and smelting costs. He later wired USD 93,750 to an account held by Okoth and Company Advocates at Family Bank in Nairobi. The money was subsequently withdrawn in cash. As part of the transaction, White was taken to Sky Eagle Ultra Vault Limited, a private safe deposit facility operating from Oasis Maralal Apartments. He was allocated a safe box where he deposited 5.35 kilogrammes of gold as collateral, under a dual-access arrangement with Chogo. However, days later, White discovered that the safe could no longer be opened using the agreed-upon combinations. Shipping plans were repeatedly changed, and additional costs were introduced. When he demanded a refund, he was told the gold had been moved to Uganda. White travelled with Chogo to Uganda, only to be abandoned there. On January 8, he reported the matter at Central Police Station, triggering a DCI investigation. A raid on the Kilimani apartment led to the recovery of five metal bars from the safe White had been using. Tests conducted by the Ministry of Mining revealed the bars were brass, not gold.

DCI seizes luxury car bought with Sh37 million gold scam cash as investigation intensifies

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DCI seizes luxury car bought with Sh37 million gold scam cash as investigation intensifies

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