At least 18 Chinese nationals have been arrested in Kenya for operating a cyber fraud syndicate following a sting operation conducted by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) alongside the Chinese Embassy. 

The Peoples Gazette gathered that the law enforcement officers, acting on intelligence, launched the raids on Monday targeting several apartments in Nairobi, resulting in the discovery of what authorities described as an active cyber fraud workstation. 

The Star newspaper reported that during the operation, police apprehended 18 Chinese citizens, while other occupants of the apartments escaped before and during the raids. 

Initial assessments by detectives allegedly indicated that the suspects specialised in targeting accounts outside Kenya before rerouting the illicit proceeds through the East African country for cash withdrawal.

Police confiscated seven CPUs, 11 Samsung desktop computers, 16 laptops, 17 keyboards, 19 computer mice, 18 USB-C ports, four uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units, three Safaricom Wi-Fi routers, extension cables and chargerswere used by the suspect to defraud their victims. 

Additionally, investigators recovered 26 mobile phones as well as cash from the apartments, including Sh293,000 ($2,200) and 22 banknotes of 20,000 Malagasy ariary. 

Police also found 39 Chinese passports and seven Malaysian passports at the scenes. 

The Gazette also learnt that the suspects had entered Kenya from China, Malaysia, Cambodia and Madagascar in the past month. They are currently being held at Kilimani Police Station pending further investigation and possible court proceedings. 

Meanwhile, Kenyan officials were said to be continuing their probes to determine the extent of the syndicate’s illegal activities and to uncover whether they had assistance from locals. 

The case has sparked conversation on social media about the growing involvement of Chinese in fraud across Africa. 

“They were chased from Nigeria and most West African countries. Kenya is corrupt and is entertaining everyone, especially Somalis; they are now insulting Kenyans in Kenya, while at their home. Somali has no one building it,” Instagram user @flarejamstudio stated. 

@evo.lin_ called for strict measures against Chinese, stating, “These are jambazi sugu. They’re speciality is human trafficking. The recent cases of Kenyans being trafficked in Cambodia must have this group here involved. The law should be very strict with them.”

“The fact that most Kenyans think that the Chinese can’t do fraud is appalling. Just shows how naive you guys are! You welcome everything and everyone in your country. You’ll learn the hard way,” @the.retired.fisherman commented.

@unique_idgaf added “I ask myself when I’m coming back home in the evening why all Chinese are going to work at night. It’s a genuine question, I’m just curious. Every evening they go out while you don’t see them during the day.”