Mombasa police unearth international money laundering syndicate and nab Sh 6.67 million fake currency

Police in Mombasa display Sh. 6.67 million fake money of sh.1000 notes that was in the process of being printed. The syndicate involves a United States company. [Photo: Edward Boluma/Standard]

Police have unearthed a fake money printing syndicate with links to the United States.

On Saturday, the officers seized Sh6.67 million worth of Sh1,000 fake notes in a house in Mtwapa.

Kilifi County Commander Fredric Ochieng' said the notes were in the final stages of production.

Mr Ochieng' said they had confiscated a contract form that requested the dealer to print Sh3.2 million fake currency last year.

“We have been able to discover an international money laundering scheme that we believe has been going on for a while where people even give contracts to have the money printed for them,” said Ochieng'.

The contract seen by The Standard shows the deal involving “Group of Companies” with a postal address reading Washington DC.

The contract was signed on November 24.

Mr Ochieng', however, said the officers did not arrest any suspect, as the owner of the house had escaped by the time they gained entry to the property.

Yesterday, Ochieng' said there was a possibility that more fake notes were in circulation. He urged the public to be careful when transacting with Sh1,000 notes.

He said police would hunt down the suspect whose identity card was found in the house, to help them arrest his accomplices.

Ochieng' said the officers also seized bhang worth Sh350,000 at a house in Mshomodoni in Mtwapa.

He said a suspected dealer escaped before the officers stormed the house