This archive report was first published on 30 December 2021.
On December 27, 2021, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested a suspected con woman, Mary Njoki Ng'ang'a alias Dr Susan, who had been targeting wealthy Kenyans in the diaspora in a fake medical supply scheme.
The suspect, who posed as a dealer connected to the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Nairobi, had been defrauding Kenyans based in the US, including one Wallace, who had lost over Ksh30 million in a fake drug supply scam.
According to the DCI, Wallace had been introduced to a Whatsapp group of Kenyans living in the United States, where he was posed as a wheeler-dealer in the UNOPS system, with connections to assist in the supply of goods and services.
Wallace was convinced that the UNOPS supply portal was legitimate, as he was introduced to a supplies portal alleged to be managed by UNOPS, and was asked to register, since all tenders would be advertised in the portal.
However, investigations by detectives later revealed that the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Nairobi was not affiliated to such a portal.
Wallace was asked to supply 250 vials of Eloxatin, a drug used in the treatment of stage three of colon cancer, at $560 per vial, and was promised a profit of $440 per vial.
He made the initial supply but later requested for the services of a lawyer to witness the deal, and was asked to supply another 250 vials, as his payment was being processed.
However, the cons went underground, and efforts by Wallace to reach them turned futile. Their phones went unanswered.
On December 27, immediately after Christmas, Wallace received a phone call from Mary Njoki Ng'ang'a alias Dr Susan, who offered to supply eloxatin vials to him worth Sh20 million.
However, detectives from the DCI had set a trap, and Mary was arrested by Serious Crimes detectives as she waited for the Ksh20 million in cash, in exchange of a consignment of alleged cancer treatment drugs that were in her possession.
Some 550 vials alleged to contain Eloxatin were recovered, and samples have been sent to the government chemist for analysis.
Meanwhile, the suspect remains in custody as detectives finalize their investigations. Police constable Ogetii is currently under disciplinary proceedings in line with the service standing orders.
