Detectives from the Operation Support Unit (OSU) have arrested Francis Talla Oufa, a Cameroonian national also known as Allain, who is believed to be the mastermind behind a high-level gold scam that defrauded a Canadian investor of more than USD 618,000 (over Ksh 79 million).
The Canadian victim was first approached in November last year while still in his home country. He was offered a lucrative deal to purchase 250 kilograms of gold, with the promise of a substantial return on his investment.
Tempted by the attractive offer, the investor flew into Kenya in April 2025 to finalize the transaction.
Upon arriving in Kenya, the victim was welcomed into a luxurious office by a man believed to be the business partner of the alleged mastermind, Allain. What seemed like a professional introduction was, in reality, a well-orchestrated trap designed to convince the investor that the gold operation was legitimate and above board.
Soon after, the victim was introduced to a group of fraudsters who posed as credible businesspeople. Their coordinated act, complete with convincing documents and smooth talk, gave the illusion of a lawful and profitable venture.
Trusting their presentation, the Canadian investor handed over USD 618,000, equivalent to over Ksh 79 million. It was only later that he uncovered the truth: he had been conned by a carefully staged network of impostors posing as legitimate traders.
Detectives launched investigations into the scam and began tracking the main suspect. Using forensic leads, they successfully traced and arrested Francis Talla Oufa, alias Allain.
Following his arrest, officers conducted a search of his vehicle and his residence in Belfair Park, Dagoretti. During the operation, they recovered several key pieces of evidence, including gold transaction documents, official-looking seals, a staff ID card from Sunshine Minerals Ltd listing Allain as an “Engineer Mining,” two laptops, three mobile phones, and other items directly tied to the fraudulent scheme.
The suspect is currently undergoing processing as police continue to follow up on fresh leads aimed at tracking down his accomplices.
