Detectives from multiple agencies, including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Uganda, and Interpol, have recovered 7,420 bags of caustic soda, valued at Ksh.267 million, which had been fraudulently obtained by international scammers.
The recovery operation took place in Uganda’s Bweyogere Industrial Area after a complaint by Indian businessman Surya Parkash, who had reported the delivery of 104 containers of the product to fictitious companies.
In a collaborative effort involving detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Ugandan authorities, and Interpol, 7,420 bags of caustic soda, worth Ksh.267 million, have been recovered. This recovery follows an intricate international fraud scheme that swindled an Indian businessman, Surya Parkash.
The operation to reclaim the stolen caustic soda took detectives to the Bweyogere Industrial Area in Kampala, Uganda. Surya Parkash had reported that he had delivered 104 containers of this chemical product to fictitious companies between December 12, 2022, and April 2023.
According to the complainant, who traveled from India to Kenya to file his report at DCI headquarters, five companies, namely Abbey Chemicals East Africa LTD, Innospec LTD, Akoki Investment Agency LTD, CJP Chemicals LTD, and UNATRAL Free Zone SMC Uganda LTD, had placed orders for the consignment. The caustic soda was delivered through the port of Mombasa between January 31, 2023, and May 15, 2023.
However, as soon as the last container was offloaded at the port, the supposed consignees, who had not fulfilled their payment obligations, disappeared and ceased communication with the supplier.
Efforts are currently underway to recover the remaining part of the shipment and apprehend the individuals involved in this fraudulent operation.