A con artist in Tana River has been arrested after selling sand disguised as Ajab wheat flour to unsuspecting customers.

The woman identified as Fatuma Issa together with her assistant Tony Molaya were arrested on Saturday, November  12, 2023, within the Adere area in Tana River after a customer and a victim of the unsavory act reported the issue to the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI).

The police noted that the shop retailer within Madogo Training Centre bought seven bales of Ajab wheat flour at a cost of Ksh. 11,900, but to his utter dismay upon opening, he had purchased sand packaged in Ajab flour bags.

The detectives rushed to investigate the matter visiting Fatuma’s business unannounced.

There, they pounce  on  two suspects packaging the sand in Ajab flour bags.

The DCI during the investigation recovered a total of 240 packets and three bales from the two suspects.

Afterwards, two more traders filed a complaint with the police saying that they fell victim to the two suspects’ sand saga.

The Netizen stormed the comment section with opinions on the whole crime. Others blamed the current government for unempoyment and heavy taxation while others hailed the shrewd lady for her creativity in surviving the hard economic times.

“Ruto anatax hadi mchanga ndo ajue wakenya sio mchezo,”

“This is very creative. Tough times require hard decisions.”

”Siku hizi ni kubaya. Trust but verify.” netizens commented.

The woman’s arrest comes weeks a man took to the internet to complain after being swindled into buying sewage water sealed in oil cans.

The two will be arraigned in court next week as the sleuths  continue with investigations.