Romanian national held in Sh171.7m bank card fraud probe
A Romanian national has been arrested in Arusha, Tanzania, for allegedly operating a large-scale bank card fraud scheme. Authorities seized POS machines, counterfeit card-making equipment, and evidence of over Sh171 million in fraudulent transactions.
Why it matters
This highlights the growing threat of international cyber-enabled financial crime in developing digital economies.
Arusha. A 39-year-old Romanian national, Mr Constantin Catalin Podoleanu, is in the custody of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) in Arusha over allegations of using stolen bank card details to illegally obtain money.
Arusha Regional PCCB head, Ms Zawadi Ngailo, said the suspect was arrested on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at around 10 pm at his residence in Njiro, Arusha.
Speaking to journalists on Saturday, August 22, 2026, Ms Ngailo said the arrest followed information provided by members of the public.
She said a subsequent search of the suspect’s residence at Njiro Block D, Engutoto Ward, led to the seizure of equipment and other items allegedly linked to the suspected fraud.
Among the items recovered were six point-of-sale (POS) machines, various bank cards, equipment and chemicals suspected to have been used to produce counterfeit cards, and two laptops.
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