Suspect arrested as DCI seize bundles of fake US dollars

Bundles of fake US currency recovered in Lucky Summer/DCI/X

Detectives from Lucky Summer Police Station have arrested a suspect alleged to be behind a counterfeit currency racket in Nairobi.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the team recovered a bundle of fake US dollars in the process.

The officers were acting on intelligence when they intercepted the suspect's vehicle in the Lucky Summer area and conducted the arrest. 

A search of the vehicle yielded a locked metallic blue box in the boot, holding sixty-eight bundles, each packed with 100 counterfeit US dollar notes. 

Police said they also recovered cartons, newspapers, cotton wool, sand and stones.

"A search of the Prado raised more red flags. Hidden in the boot was a locked metallic blue box," police siad.

"At the station, the mystery box finally gave up its secrets. Inside were sixty-eight bundles, each packed with 100 counterfeit US dollar notes. Also recovered inside the box were cartons, newspapers, cotton wool, sand and stones".

The man is currently in police custody, undergoing processing pending arraignment as detectives dig deeper to unravel the full extent of the syndicate.

DCI has been working to eradicate the use and trade of fake dollars. 

On October 8, 2025,  detectives from the Transnational Organized Crimes Unit (TOCU) and the Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) seized a residence in Lang'ata and discovered counterfeit US currency valued at $31,700 (Sh.4 million).

In August, detectives arrested two women under suspicion of dealing with fake US currency, in an operation in Upper Hill, Nairobi. 

According to the DCI, a search on the women led to the recovery of several bundles of fake 100 dollar notes hidden inside a handbag.

“Detectives have apprehended two women in possession of substantial quantities of counterfeit US dollars,” the DCI said in a statement.

The cash was later confirmed as amounting to $560,000, equivalent to about Sh70 million.

Still in August, seven suspects including five Kenyans, a Tanzanian and a Congolese were arrested in suspicion of making counterfeit US dollars. 

DCI said that the suspects were apprehended by officers from the Central Police Station at a hotel in the Ngara area of Nairobi.

During the raid, the officers seized 36 bundles of fake US currency, plastic note replicas, black paper resembling banknotes and other suspected counterfeiting materials.

Ugandan police also dealt with similar crime, arresting six suspects in August.

Six Congolese nationals were taken to custody for allegedly dealing in counterfeit US dollars.

Ugandan police said the suspects were arrested as they attempted to exchange 300,000 fake US dollars, packed in three bundles, for Ugandan shillings.

Police said the counterfeit notes were estimated at 1.68 billion shillings.