The Hawks, officially known as the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), have made significant progress in cracking down on a coltan scam syndicate, with the arrest of Kalume Alex Mulimbi (42) and Shannen Shanel Snyman (33) on Friday in Sandton. This follows last week’s breakthrough that led to the apprehension of Georgie Maureen Da Lanca (known as “Lisa”) on 10 March 2025 for her involvement in the scam.
The 419 Task Team led the operation, which culminated in the arrests of Mulimbi and Snyman. Their arrests came after Da Lanca was linked to a fraudulent coltan deal involving a R250 000 loss by a complainant in Johannesburg. The victim had been deceived by a co-conspirator, Tony Bradley, who had convinced them to make a payment for a cross-border certificate and code activation.
Investigations revealed that the complainant had deposited the money into an FNB account, and it was then split among multiple accounts, including those belonging to Da Lanca and Snyman. Bradley had been arrested in November 2022 and granted bail, but further investigation revealed more involved parties.
The case has drawn attention from IRS Forensic Investigations, an independent crime investigation company that has been tracking the scam for a while. According to IRS Forensics, the scam involves luring victims into investing in the purchase and resale of coltan, a mineral used in electronics, particularly smartphones. Similar to past scams involving fake diamonds and black dollars, this scheme entices people into buying fraudulent packages, falsely claiming they would be resold in another country, such as Dubai.
The Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court saw the first appearances of Snyman and Mulimbi on Monday, with Snyman being granted bail of R5 000. The case against Mulimbi has been postponed to 25 March 2025 for a formal bail application.
Da Lanca’s first appearance was on 12 March 2025, with her case also postponed for a formal bail application. The court hearing for all involved parties continues to unfold.
The Hawks have made it clear that the investigation is ongoing, and more arrests are possible. In light of the ongoing investigation, IRS Forensic Investigations is calling on the public, especially those who might have fallen victim to the scam, to come forward with their cases. Those who recognize the suspects, or have information regarding the scam, are urged to contact IRS Forensic Investigations and provide their case numbers and police station details.
