The Ashanti Regional Police Command, through its Police Intelligence Directorate (PID), has dismantled a criminal syndicate responsible for a string of targeted vehicle thefts across the Kumasi Metropolis.
The operation, led by PID operatives, followed sustained intelligence gathering and surveillance, supported by footage from the Intelligence Video Surveillance (IVS) system monitored at the Police Emergency Command Centre at the Regional Headquarters.
Through this system, two suspicious vehicles were identified:
• A gold-coloured Toyota Highlander with registration number GT 2471-14
• A black Toyota Highlander with registration number GX 7124-12
Subsequent investigations revealed that both vehicles were bearing fake license plates.
On Thursday, June 19, 2025, at approximately 10:00 a.m., the police arrested three suspects:
• Russell Ekenze, 29, taxi driver
• Francis Friday, 49, politician
• Linus Agwazie, 51, trader
A 6-inch T-shaped metal tool, believed to be used as a master key for their operations, was recovered from one of the vehicles during the arrest.
During interrogation, the suspects confessed to being part of a wider criminal network involved in multiple vehicle thefts at various locations in Kumasi, including:
• Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH)
• Mayanka
• Asokwa
• Kumasi Central Mosque
• Shoprite, Kumasi
• Georgia Hotel area
They also named other syndicate members as Cosmas Maduabuchukwu, Ezuchukwu, C.J., D.D., and Lele.
One of the key suspects, Cosmas Maduabuchukwu, sustained gunshot wounds during an attempted arrest but managed to escape.
Intelligence later revealed he sought refuge at a drinking bar in Kenyase, owned by Gifty Ozurumbam and Gladys Ibrahim.
Both women have since been arrested for obstructing police investigations by failing to disclose Cosmas’ location.
Currently, five suspects are in police custody, and two vehicles used by the syndicate have been impounded.
Source: Myxyzonline.com
