Days after revealing how criminal gangs rob motorists, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations has again exposed how the car import fraud ring works.

In a statement on Friday, January 9, 2026, the DCI appealed for public assistance in tracking a person of interest linked to a multimillion-shilling car import fraudster who is claimed to have defrauded clients across Nairobi.

According to detectives, the scheme involved promising to import vehicles for clients, including foreign nationals and United Nations staff. Victims were asked to make full payments into accounts controlled by the person of interest, with some transactions reaching hundreds of thousands of shillings.

“While some vehicles were eventually imported, payments to Japanese suppliers were often incomplete, leading to delays, extra charges, storage fees, and other financial losses for clients. In several cases, complainants received no vehicles at all,” the X statement read in part.

The investigators said the person of interest often failed to deliver the promised vehicles or made only partial payments to suppliers. This left clients facing unexpected costs, long delays, and in many cases, no vehicle at all.

Several victims told DCI they had paid in full but either never received their cars or were forced to cover additional fees to complete the import process.

The scheme is said to have continued even after initial complaints, as the person of interest closed all physical offices and moved operations online, making it easier to receive payments without raising suspicion.

Following DCI intervention, the company’s website was taken down, and its registration was cancelled to prevent further transactions.

Detectives have urged anyone with information on the person of interest’s whereabouts to come forward and help victims seek justice.

“Anyone with a pending complaint, unresolved case, or relevant information related to the suspect should report immediately to the DCI’s Serious Crime Unit,” the statement added.

Car scam syndicate

Vehicle-related fraud in the country has surged in 2025 and early 2026, with several high-profile cases drawing attention.

In January 2025, a prominent car dealer was charged with obtaining millions of shillings for vehicles, including a Honda Vezel and a Subaru Outback, that were never delivered.

By September 2025, some of these cases were said to have been settled out of court, although the dealer also faced accusations of misdeclaring a Range Rover to evade customs duties.

DCI has warned that such fraud schemes are increasingly sophisticated, often targeting unsuspecting clients through online platforms.

They urged the public to remain vigilant when making payments for vehicle imports and to report any suspicious activity promptly.