In a dramatic sting operation, Ugandan security operatives have busted an international syndicate accused of swindling a Nigerian lawmaker and investor out of $70,000 (about Shs270 million) in a brazen fake gold deal.
The high-profile arrests — involving seven suspects — were carried out in the Kampala suburbs of Muyenga and Bukasa during a coordinated raid by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit and the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), acting on a crucial tip-off from the Nigerian High Commission in Uganda.
Those in custody include four Congolese nationals — Paluku Kisasi, Safari Akonkwa, Isaac Mpende, and Mabwongo Prince — alongside three Ugandans identified as Abdul Madjid Kahirima, Kajjubi Tevin Kyome, and Tibasiima Barbra, alias Katushabe Sharon.
A Two-Stage Swindle
According to investigators, the elaborate scam unfolded in two calculated stages. On July 15, Emerode Agency Ltd allegedly struck a deal with the Nigerian MP to supply 3 kilograms of gold for $30,000. Payment was made, but the gold never arrived.
Undeterred, and trusting a second arrangement, the lawmaker later approached Legacy Refinery Company Limited for an additional 4 kilograms of gold, this time paying $40,000. Once again, no gold was delivered.
Police sources revealed that the suspects have confessed to operating such fraudulent gold sales “for some time,” targeting unsuspecting investors in and beyond Uganda.
Diplomatic Intelligence and Security Crackdown
Authorities credited the Nigerian High Commission for its pivotal intelligence support, calling it “instrumental” in the operation’s success.
“We commend our Nigerian counterparts for their collaboration. This case is a reminder that fraudsters are becoming increasingly sophisticated and costly,” a CID spokesperson warned, urging both local and foreign investors to conduct thorough due diligence before engaging in precious metals transactions.
The Ugandan police further sounded the alarm over the rise in gold-related scams, noting that such crimes are often transnational in nature, involving well-connected criminal networks.
The suspects remain in custody as investigations continue, with security sources hinting that more arrests may follow across borders as part of a broader crackdown on fake gold rackets in East Africa.
PIONEER NEWS 