Most Wanted Conman Stopped At Wilson Airport From Fleeing To Somalia
He was believed to have chosen the destination as an easier means of escaping into the neighbouring country.
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Police officers on Tuesday, January 17 arrested a notorious fraudster suspected of conning Kenyans millions of shillings.
In a statement by the National Police Service (NPS), the suspect was ambushed by the officers at Wilson Airport while waiting to catch a flight to Elwak, a town in Kenya, on the International border with Somalia
He was believed to have chosen the destination as an easier means of escaping into the neighbouring country.
The notorious fraudster arrested by police at Wilson Airport on January 17, 2023. /NPS
The NPS acknowledged efforts by members of the public for providing information that was used to track down the suspect.
"Yesterday, Police Officers arrested a most wanted person suspected of fraud. Abdiqafar Abdirashid Abey was nabbed at Wilson Airport while waiting to board a plane to Elwak.
"He is suspected of defrauding the public with millions of shillings as reported at Nyanchwa Police Station in Kisii County. We thank members of the public for providing crucial information that led to the timely arrest of the suspect," NPS stated.
The arrest comes after three notorious suspects were arrested over the weekend by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives for obtaining money from unsuspecting members of the public, by operating fictitious online platforms purporting to sell goods.
In a statement on Monday, January 16, Dickson Magembe, Dionicious Omonyi and Derrick Kodek were arrested in a swoop by detectives from the elite Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau, following numerous complaints received from the public via the DCI Facebook and Twitter platforms.
The trio were believed to have obtained millions of shillings from unsuspecting shoppers, by operating fake accounts imitating popular online stores.
Through a fake Facebook page, the three ran a promotion over the Christmas and New Year period offering discounts of up to 40 per cent for various household goods, attracting unsuspecting shoppers in droves.
A mobile money till number where cash deposits would be made before delivery of goods was provided and upon successful payment, an invoice would be sent via WhatsApp promising free delivery within 24 hours.
"That would mark the end of the correspondence as the eager clients would be blocked henceforth, leaving them disappointed and with heavy losses to bear.
"This happened to a victim in Mukothima, Tharaka North Sub County, who made a payment of Ksh95,000 for a 7 seater recliner seat and a coffee table," stated the DCI in part.
This is after an offer was made on the fake Facebook page announcing a 40 per cent discount on recliner seats and other household items.
"Tens of other Kenyans who found the deals too good to think twice fell for the trap hook line and sinker, after hurriedly making orders before getting thoroughly disappointed later," added the DCI.
A total of 22 SIM Cards used in the fraud were recovered from the first suspect, a 3rd-year student at Kisii University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
The suspect was arrested in the Canaan area of Kisii town and later led detectives to his two other accomplices in Ruiru, Kiambu county.
