Detectives from the Operation Support Unit have arrested a second suspect linked to a multi-million gold scam that defrauded an American national of USD 217,900, approximately Sh28 million, in a deal that promised gold but delivered nothing.
The suspect, Mohammed Noor Muhyadhin Mohammed, is accused of laundering proceeds of the fraudulent transaction through his company, Mohazcom Trading, a registered Kenyan business dealing in mobile phones sourced mainly from Tecno Mobile Limited in Hong Kong.
Investigators say the transaction was disguised as payment for 495 kilograms of gold that was never delivered to the victim.
According to detectives, the funds were wired on February 3, 2026, into Mohammed’s company account at the National Bank of Kenya.
The money had been transferred from accounts held by MOAC Advocates at the same bank.
Authorities believe the transfer was part of a carefully choreographed scheme designed to create a veneer of legitimacy.
Mohammed is the sole proprietor of Mohazcom Trading, a registered Kenyan business dealing in mobile phones sourced primarily from Tecno Mobile Limited in Hong Kong.
Barely hours after the funds hit his account, investigators say Mohammed wired the entire amount overseas.
The money was allegedly transferred to accounts associated with Tecno Mobile Limited at Citibank in Hong Kong, purportedly to finance a shipment of mobile phones.
Detectives maintain that the shipment in question has not arrived in Kenya, raising further suspicions about the legitimacy of the transaction.
The arrest follows the earlier apprehension of Willis Onyango Wasonga, also known as Marcus.
Wasonga was arraigned before the Milimani Law Courts on February 16, 2026, where he faced multiple charges.
These include conspiracy to defraud, obtaining money by false pretences, and several counts under the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act.
Investigators argue that the accused persons operated a coordinated network aimed at exploiting foreign investors through fictitious gold export deals.
Further inquiries have revealed that Mohammed maintained a business relationship spanning over a decade with a forex bureau located along Standard Street in Nairobi.
The bureau’s proprietor is believed to have facilitated substantial cross-border transfers, including the transaction now under scrutiny.
Detectives suspect the forex bureau played a pivotal role in layering and moving funds to conceal their origin.
In an apparent attempt to sanitise the transfer, MOAC Advocates reportedly presented a debt settlement agreement.
The document was allegedly signed by Mohammed and another suspect who remains at large.
However, investigators contend that the agreement was merely a smokescreen designed to shield the fraudulent enterprise.
Mohammed is currently in custody undergoing processing pending his arraignment in court.
Meanwhile, detectives are pursuing three additional suspects believed to be key players in the scheme.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations says the case highlights its sustained crackdown on gold scams and financial crimes.
Authorities have urged members of the public to report suspicious activities through the DCI hotline or via WhatsApp anonymously.
Investigations remain ongoing as authorities seek to dismantle what they describe as a well-orchestrated transnational fraud network.
