Five individuals have been arrested in connection with a sophisticated gold scam that defrauded two foreign businessmen—a Romanian and a Swiss national—of USD 120,000. The victims were lured with the promise of purchasing 550 kilograms of gold, only to realize too late that they had been conned.
The suspects, now in police custody, include the alleged mastermind and self-proclaimed CEO of AFREX Bridge Connections Ltd, Lamarca J. Benjamin, also known as Morlon Jean Emmanuel. Others arrested are Samson Kibet Sirkoi, Lucy Gitonga, Rose Kambua, and Justine Adhiambo, 25. The arrests were made in different locations across the country after an intensive police operation.
According to a complaint filed at Wilson Airport Police Station on January 29, 2025, the victims were introduced to Lamarca through a contact person who assured them that the gold was safely stored at a godown near Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). The gold, they were told, was awaiting clearance and would be shipped as soon as the payment was made. Trusting the elaborate scheme, the businessmen wired USD 120,000, only to be met with endless delays and excuses.
“Everything seemed legitimate,” one of the victims recounted. “We saw documents, emails, even supposed clearance papers. But once the money was wired, they kept postponing the shipment. That’s when we knew we had been conned.”
Acting swiftly, detectives launched investigations and raided the offices of AFREX Bridge Connections Ltd, where they recovered crucial evidence. The first arrests were made at the company’s premises, with Lucy Gitonga and Rose Kambua being taken into custody. Further investigations led to the arrest of Samson Kibet Sirkoi on January 31. The breakthrough came on February 2 when officers tracked Lamarca and Justine Adhiambo to Mount Kenya Wildlife Estate in Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Nanyuki, where they were arrested at House No. 12.
During the operation, police recovered two Glock pistols, 96 rounds of 9mm ammunition, a pair of handcuffs, a laptop, a MacBook, six expired mineral licenses, and a silver Toyota Land Cruiser V8 (Reg. No. KCW 880M). A subsequent raid at Lamarca’s residence in Riverside Pearl, Kileleshwa, Nairobi, yielded even more shocking evidence, including three 9mm tracer bullets, 14 smoke grenades, a bulletproof vest, and assorted seals and stamps. Authorities have since confirmed that Lamarca is not a licensed firearm holder.
“This is not just a case of fraud; we are looking at possible links to organized crime,” a senior detective revealed. “The sheer scale of weapons recovered raises serious security concerns.”
While Lucy Gitonga and Rose Kambua have already been arraigned, investigators secured custodial orders to complete their probe. The remaining three suspects are scheduled to appear in court today, Tuesday, February 4.
“This case serves as a stark warning to those engaging in gold scams,” an officer close to the case stated. “We are cracking down on fraudsters exploiting Kenya’s gold trade to dupe unsuspecting investors.”
Authorities are now investigating whether the syndicate has defrauded other victims, urging anyone with relevant information to come forward. The case highlights the ongoing menace of fake gold deals in Nairobi, which have damaged Kenya’s reputation as a regional trade hub.
Do you want to be Published? info@thedailywhistle.co.ke or Whatsapp 0721 930 260
