Kampala — THE Police have arrested four people, one of them a Briton, at Entebbe Airport as they tried to sell fake gold to Japanese businessmen.

The men were identified as Ian Bevin (the Briton), Nsubuga Makela, Joseph Kimera and Gerald Maliyo from the DR Congo.

Maliyo, who was reportedly the middleman, was nabbed with $77,000 in fake currency.

Herman Owomugisha, the head of security at the airport, said on Monday that they would take the 'gold' samples to the Department of Geology and Mines for tests.

The suspects, the Ploice said, will be charged with being in possession of fake money and trying to export minerals without license at the Entebbe Magistrate's Court.

Owomugisha said the conmen were arrested from a room reserved for clearing agents before they could accomplish their mission. They had asked for $100,000 from the Japanese.

In a related incident, an American is being held in Entebbe for trying to smuggle fake gold he allegedly bought at $16,000 from dealers on Kampala Road.

The unidentified man, released on bond, had packed the 'gold' in a DVD player in his travel bag.

Owomugisha said the American fainted after his 'gold' was burnt to ashes following tests the Police carried out with acid.