A/R: Police arrest five, impound vehicles in criminal syndicate raid

Five persons have been arrested by the Ashanti Regional Police Command over a criminal syndicate targeting individuals who withdraw large sums of money from banks.

The suspects, all Nigerian nationals, were apprehended following weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering by the Police Intelligence Directorate (PID).

Addressing a press conference on Monday, June 23, 2025, the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Emmanuel Teye-Cudjoe, revealed that the suspects have been operating across the region by trailing bank customers and stealing cash from unattended parked vehicles.

DCOP Teye-Cudjoe explained that the syndicate used two vehicles—strategically parked near bank premises—to monitor and identify potential victims.

A spotter from the group would observe bank clients making significant withdrawals and alert the others, who would then trail the unsuspecting individual until the person left their car unattended.

The suspects used a specialized tool to break into the targeted vehicles, steal the cash, and escape in a second vehicle to avoid detection.

Suspects Arrested

The suspects arrested include:

• Russell Ekenze, 29, taxi driver
• Francis Friday, 49, politician
• Linus Agwazie, 51, trader
• Gifty Ozurumbam
• Gladys Ibrahim

All five are currently in police custody. Two vehicles believed to have been used in the operations, a gold Toyota Highlander (GT 2471-14) and a black Toyota Highlander (GX 7124-12), have also been impounded. Both vehicles carried fake registration plates.

Meanwhile, a key member of the group, Cosmas Maduabuchukwu, remains at large after sustaining a gunshot wound during an attempted arrest.

According to police, Cosmas fled and sought refuge at a drinking bar in Kenyase owned by the two female suspects, Ozurumbam and Ibrahim, who were subsequently arrested for obstructing police investigations.

DCOP Teye-Cudjoe assured the public that a manhunt is actively underway to apprehend Cosmas and any other members of the syndicate.