Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives in Nairobi have arrested a prime suspect implicated in a Kes 151 million Tantalum mineral export scam to China.
In a statement on X, DCI said its agents attached to the Operations Support Unit (OSU) nabbed Ulundu Patrick Lumumba, alias Gabriel Kulonda, along Harambee Avenue after arriving in the country from Entebbe, Uganda, on Friday morning.
The DCI said that Lumumba had managed to evade detection by Immigration officials at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) despite a stop order on his passport under the name Gabriel Kulonda Ilungu.
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He had sneaked into the country using a Ugandan Interstate pass card.
“Determined to sneak back into the country and further his felonious activities, the suspect used a Ugandan Interstate pass card in the name of Lumumba Patrick Byarufu, and upon arrest was also found in possession of yet another Congolese Passport number in the name of Patrick Ulundu Lumumba.”
Lumumba stands accused of defrauding a Chinese national of Kes 151 million after one container declared to contain tantalum minerals was opened in China, only to be found loaded with drums of sand.
DCI said preliminary investigations revealed that the two containers had already been cleared and shipped to Dubai in transit to the same buyer.
This discovery initiated investigations at the port of Mombasa, part of the transit route.
In Mombasa, detectives discovered three additional containers containing sand, declared Tantalum minerals.
Two 20-foot containers containing sand were initially discovered at the port, followed by the interception of a third 40-foot container at a warehouse within the port premises.
Further, DCI disclosed that the 40ft container had passed all verification processes without proper documentation.
“This totaled to six, the number of containers of sand declared as tantalum minerals.”
It was unclear if all six containers were meant for the same buyer.
Lumumba was set to be arraigned at Milimani Law Court on Friday.
