Previously recovered fake money. Police in Iten town have confiscated fake currency worth over Sh2 million in denominations of Sh1,000 notes and arrested four suspects. Photo/FILE
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Police in Iten town have confiscated fake currency worth over Sh2 million in denominations of Sh1,000 notes and arrested four suspects together with apparatus used in printing the money
Three of the suspects believed to be from Langas estate in Eldoret town are brothers and police described them as notorious criminals who have previously been involved in the money laundering syndicate traversing North Rift counties
Police in Iten town have confiscated fake currency worth over Sh2 million in denominations of Sh1,000 notes and arrested four suspects together with apparatus used in printing the money.
Three of the suspects believed to be from Langas estate in Eldoret town are brothers and police described them as notorious criminals who have previously been involved in the money laundering syndicate traversing North Rift counties distributing fake currency notes to unsuspected members of the public.
Local OCPD Joseph Ireri said the four were arrested in the town over the weekend by officers acting on a tip off from members of the public.
“This is a lot of money and the suspects must have been targeting Mpesa shops, petrol stations and supermarkets,” Mr Ireri.
“The boda-boda operators learnt about their motive and informed police officers on night patrol who came and arrested them but two managed to escape under the cover of darkness,” added Mr Ireri.
The OCPD said that one group of the suspects had come from Kabarnet town while another was from Eldoret. Iten was the point of convergence where the suspects plan and execute the missions as they audit the business.
"Further investigations into the incident are on-going and the suspects will be arraigned in court when the investigations are complete," said Mr Ireri.
Mpesa dealers in Iten town had complained about an increase in circulation of fake currency and it is believed that the nabbed suspects were responsible.
Ms Tecla jerop, an Mpesa agent in the town recalled how she had was recently given more than sh 30,000 in fake currency by a con-artist posing as a customer.
“He deposited the money into his Mpesa account and gave the fake currency notes,” said the agent.
