A wealthy foreign businessman Edwin Jack Mulindwa is counting his losses after losing 999 kilograms of gold with a street value of Sh 8 billion, in unclear circumstances at a warehouse at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Monday.
The wealthy Democratic of Republic of Congo (DR Congo) international was dealing with two Nigerian internationals by the time they vanished. The Nigerian duo include a broker who is only known by the victim as Chief, while the buyer was Dr Wilson Chidozie Nwankwo. It’s believed that they worked closely with local partners and corrupt government officials to steal the consignment. They were planning to buy the commodity by the time it vanished in thin air.
According to private investigators, it’s suspected the disappeared consignment could be headed to Turkey but it’s not yet clear which company will be receiving the consignment and it’s believed that the broker could be having a hand in the disappearance since he enjoys the help of key local lawyers and influential government officers.
In July last year, about three tonnes of gold valued at Sh20 billion mysteriously disappeared from the custody of customs officials in Nairobi.
The gold was allegedly smuggled from a warehouse at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) where it was being stored.
Kenyan investigative agencies and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) authorities also investigated illegal gold trade last year amid reports that it had been fuelling the central Africa nation’s 15-year conflict.
Member States of the East African Community last in June last year agreed to form a military unit to find a solution to the conflict.
Sources with the intelligence networks in Nairobi revealed that the consignment was flown out of the country without following due process or obtaining consent from the owner.
However, the destination of the consignment is yet to be established.
