Ashanti Regional Police crackdown vehicles theft syndicate; 5 arrested
The Ashanti Regional Police Command has announced a major breakthrough in their fight against crime, with the arrest of a syndicate involved in targeted vehicle thefts in Kumasi.
Speaking at a press briefing, the Ashanti Regional Commander of the Police, DCOP Mr. Emmanuel Teye-Cudjoe, said the syndicate, believed to be part of a larger criminal network, used Toyota Highlanders with registration GY 2471-14 and GX 7124-12 to trail victims who had withdrawn large sums of money from banks.
The suspects, who have confessed to the crime, used master keys or broke into vehicles to steal cash. The Police have recovered a 6-inch T-shaped metal tool, believed to be used as a master key in the thefts, from one of the vehicles used by the syndicate.
Key suspect include Russell Ekenze, a 29-year-old taxi driver, along with Francis Friday, 49, a politician, and Linus Agwazie, 51, a trader, CJ, and DD.
Five suspects in total are currently in police custody, and the two vehicles used by the syndicate have been impounded and preliminary findings indicate that all members of the syndicate are Nigerian nationals with the exception of one suspect DD, who is believed to be Ghanaian.
The remaining syndicate members, including Cosmas Maduabuchukwu, who was shot during an attempted arrest and sought safety at a pub at Kenyase owned by Gladys Ibrahim and Gifty Ozurumbam, are being sought in a manhunt.
These two individuals have been arrested for obstructing police investigations by failing to disclose Cosmos’ whereabouts.
The Police Command released this information to the media through a press conference held at the M.A Alhassan Conference Hall on Monday, June 23, 2025,
The syndicate’s activities were widespread, with reported cases including Ghc 107,000 stolen from a victim at the Agricultural Development Bank at Ahodwo roundabout, Ghc 88,000 stolen from a victim at Obaa Yaa chop bar, Ghc 22,000 stolen from a victim at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Hospital Emergency Unit, Ghc 100,000 stolen from a victim at Ayeduase, Ghc 95,000 stolen from a victim at a food joint in Tafo Pankrono, and Ghc 85,000 stolen from a victim at Asawase market near the Central mosque and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).
The Police Command has assured the public of its commitment to ensuring safety and security and urged anyone with further information to come forward.
Source: Ghana/otecmfghana.com/Esther Ackom, Kumasi.
