Police have launched investigations into the smuggling of two tonnes of gold through the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) this week.
The commodity whose origin is not clear is believed to have a street value of Sh14.5 billion (120 million dollars) and is said to have been smuggled between Sunday and Wednesday this week with a possible destination of the United States or the United Kingdom.
This latest act comes barely two months since another three tonnes of gold mysteriously disappeared at the same international airport.
On July 31, top security, aviation and airport clearing agents were fingered in the disappearance of the three tonnes of gold from JKIA.
The joint probe by Kenyan detectives and their DRC counterparts, which began in July, linked associates of a key politician and a Constable attached to the JKIA and his seniors.
Investigations have also established that the missing gold was destined for the Middle East without proper clearance channels or protocols.
“The gold haul is said to have been moved and executed with the help of very senior security apparatus and some diplomatic channels as well and experienced aviation and cargo agents,” an investigation report read.
“They await clearance to be able to travel to the middle eastern capital with the help of their local partners, the owners are scheduled to do formal statements in the coming days to unearth one of the biggest gold heists in recent times.”
About three tons of gold valued at Sh20 billion had mysteriously disappeared from the custody of customs in Nairobi.
Investigations were then launched amid reports that the illegal gold trade has been fueling the DRC’s 15-year conflict.
One of the senior politicians in the country and who had earlier been mentioned in a similar scandal is one of the people detectives are focusing on.
Investigations further reveal that the involved parties, buyers and sellers, disagreed on payment procedures which prompted the buyers to rely on his political and business connections to move the consignment from the customs office.
“The buyers are said to be of Arab and European origin. Detectives from both countries have already identified the parties involved and are now seeking to identify the destination and recover the gold.
One of the owners of the gold who is said to be ill in DRC has already initiated the process of halting the transaction through courts -at Milimani Law Courts-in a bid to recover the gold.
The matter was reported at the Airport police station which indicated breaking and theft from a warehouse on July 12.
A number of cases have been reported in the country in the last few years.
