Police officers in Eldoret are investigating a suspected fake money syndicate following the seizure of over Ksh 334 million in fake currencies.
The currencies in US Dollars and Kenyan Shillings were found in a Prado that had been parked along the Old Nairobi Road in the Teleview area.
According to the Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Wilberforce Sichani, officers on patrol noticed the Prado parked, but on an attempt to interrogate the occupants, they ran away.
“The vehicle was towed to Eldoret Police Station as the officers suspected it was being used in an illegal business. Inside the vehicle, we found two safes used to store money. Initial investigations indicate that the car had been hired in Kisumu,” Sicharani said.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations later secured a court order to allow them to open the safes, where detectives found Ksh 2.615 million and about 2.99 million US dollars, which is estimated to be KSh 334 million.
“Also found in the vehicle were 3,267 papers used for making money. We have arrested one suspect, and he is helping us with investigations,” the Uasin Gishu police boss said.
The police said the seized money will be taken to the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) for them to verify it is safe or fake.
Meanwhile, the police have asked members of the public to be vigilant when handling money so as not to fall prey to individuals involved in the fake money syndicate.
“We will release further information once we verify whether the currencies are fake or genuine,” Sicharani said.
