Two Arrested Transporting Fake Ksh. 6 Million Along Thika-Garissa Highway

Police have arrested two suspects after intercepting a vehicle transporting counterfeit currency with a face value of Ksh. 6 million along the Thika-Garissa Highway.

The suspects, John Safari Mbiti and Erick Njuguna Wambui, were travelling in a black Toyota Vitz from Thika towards Kithimani when they were stopped by a multi-agency security team at a roadblock in Kanyonyoo for a routine inspection.

During a thorough search of the vehicle, officers discovered a white carrier bag containing four tightly wrapped bundles concealed beneath layers of khaki paper, aluminium foil and clear adhesive tape.

Upon opening the packages, investigators recovered counterfeit Ksh. 1,000 notes neatly packed into four bundles with a combined face value of Ksh. 6 million.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects were transporting the fake currency to Wamunyu area in Kitui County, where it was allegedly to be handed over to an accomplice for further processing to make it resemble genuine banknotes before being released into circulation.

The suspects were immediately arrested and taken to Kanyonyoo Police Station where they were booked alongside the recovered counterfeit currency. They remain in police custody as detectives finalise investigations ahead of their arraignment in court.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) says that counterfeit currency poses a serious threat to the economy by undermining public confidence in financial transactions and exposing unsuspecting members of the public and businesses to significant financial losses.