Detectives arrested three suspects in Diani on November 30, 2025, recovering fake Kenyan shillings worth KES 1.7 million. The operation targeted a hideout in Ukunda after weeks of surveillance. Authorities linked the counterfeit notes to circulation in local businesses and tourist areas.
On Sunday morning, November 30, 2025, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) apprehended three individuals in Diani, Kwale County, during a raid on a rented house in the Ukunda area. The arrests followed weeks of surveillance by the DCI's anti-counterfeit unit, prompted by forensic leads tracing the fake currency to the coastal region.
Officers recovered bundles of counterfeit Sh1,000 notes with a total face value of KES 1.7 million, concealed inside an ordinary laptop bag. The bag was secured with a white ribbon inscribed with the handwritten words “CBK 1000,” mimicking an official Central Bank of Kenya package. The notes featured advanced security features, including threads, watermarks, and raised print, capable of fooling basic detection methods and the untrained eye.
DCI reports indicate the counterfeit money had been circulating in Diani's local businesses and tourist spots for several weeks. The suspects are believed to belong to a broader network distributing fake currency along the Kenyan coast. They are currently held at Diani Police Station and scheduled to appear in court on charges of possession of counterfeit currency and forgery.
This operation echoes a prior DCI raid on October 8, 2025, in Lang'ata, Nairobi, where one person was arrested with fake US dollars valued at USD 31,700, equivalent to about KES 4 million, from a residence in Royal Park Estate. In response, DCI has called on traders, hotels, and forex bureaus in Kwale and Mombasa counties to scrutinize notes carefully and report suspicions via the toll-free line 0800 722 203.