Three foreigners arrested in Kenya with emeralds worth Ksh.19 million

According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the suspects; Milton Ivan Espana Diaz from the United States, Luis Carlos Garcia Ayala from Colombia, and Manuel De Jesus Arevalo Rodriguez from Mexico, were arrested on June 30, 2026, by detectives from the Anti-Illegal Mining and Smuggling Investigations (AIMSI) unit.

The detectives reportedly recovered 74 grams of raw emeralds from the trio during the operation.

The DCI said preliminary investigations established that the suspects did not possess documentation indicating the origin of the minerals and also lacked a valid mineral dealer's or trading licence issued by the State Department for Mining.

The three were arraigned before the Chief Magistrate's Court in Kibera, where they faced two charges: dealing in minerals without a valid dealer's licence and unauthorised possession of precious minerals.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The court released each of the accused on a bond of Ksh.500,000 with a surety of a similar amount or, alternatively, a cash bail of Ksh.200,000 and one contact person. Their passports were also ordered to be deposited in court pending the hearing and determination of the case.