The Ashanti Regional Police Command has announced the successful dismantling of a criminal syndicate involved in a string of targeted vehicle thefts in Kumasi.
The group is believed to have trailed unsuspecting victims from banks and stolen large sums of money from parked vehicles.
According to the police, the syndicate, which operated using Toyota Highlander vehicles with fake registration plates, carefully identified and followed individuals before breaking into their cars to steal cash and valuables.
After months of coordinated intelligence gathering and surveillance using the Police Intelligence Directorate and the Intelligence Video Surveillance (IVS) system, law enforcement traced two vehicles linked to the crimes.
On June 19, 2025, three key suspects — Russell Ekenze, Francis Friday, and Linus Agwazie — were arrested.
Tools used in the thefts were retrieved from the vehicles, and the suspects later confessed to their involvement in multiple incidents. They also mentioned other accomplices, including one Cosmas Maduabuchukwu, who is currently on the run.
Two women, Gifty Ozurumbam and Gladys Ibrahim, were also taken into custody for allegedly obstructing police investigations.
In total, five suspects, mostly Nigerian nationals and one Ghanaian, are currently in police custody and are being processed for court. Investigations are ongoing in collaboration with the Greater Accra Regional Police Command.
In a separate development, the Nkawie Divisional Police Command arrested 29-year-old William Ofori Atta at Kukuom in the Ahafo Region in connection with a recent case of robbery and murder.
Ofori Atta is suspected to have been involved in the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Emmanuel Kwabena Boakye on May 26, 2025. The incident occurred at the Radiance Filling Station in Mpasatia, Ashanti Region, where Boakye worked.
Police say a coordinated operation involving the Ashanti Regional Cyber Crime Unit, Kukuom Police, and the Nkawie Divisional Command led to the suspect’s arrest on June 21 at around 5:30 a.m. During interrogation, Ofori Atta admitted to the crime. A mobile phone believed to belong to the victim was retrieved from him and is undergoing forensic analysis.
The police have commended the collaboration between the various units involved in the operations and assured the public of their continuous efforts to maintain safety and security. They also encouraged anyone with relevant information to assist with the ongoing investigations.
Deputy Superintendent of Police, Godwin Ahianyo, Head of Public Affairs for the Ashanti Region, signed the release and reiterated the Command’s commitment to providing timely updates as the cases develop.
