Els: MBN360 News
The Ghana police said on Monday they had dismantled a violent carjacking syndicate linked to a string of armed robberies and murders in the Ashanti Region, including the killing of a Toyota Hilux owner in Kumasi earlier this month.
At a media briefing in Kumasi, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno, said investigations into the 10 February killing of Andrews Amankwah at Ohwim-Amanfrom had led to the arrest of four suspects and the death of the alleged ringleader during a police operation.
The operation, he said, was launched under the direction of his office and involved the Regional Police Intelligence Directorate, the Cyber Vetting and Enforcement Team and the CID Anti-Armed Robbery Unit.
“Through sustained surveillance, technical intelligence and targeted operations, we have successfully dismantled a dangerous carjacking syndicate known as the Duku Syndicate,” Arthur told journalists.
First breakthrough
Police said the arrests took place between 18 to 22 February across Kumasi and surrounding areas. One suspect sustained gunshot wounds during an operation and later died in hospital.
According to police, the first breakthrough came on Feb. 18 with the arrest of Akwasi Manu, a 47-year-old farmer, who was found in possession of the victim’s Samsung mobile phone.
A day later, officers arrested Bashiru Tanko, also known as “TK”, 33, at Atonsu in Kumasi. Investigators said he had previously been involved in car-snatching operations in Tarkwa and around the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, but was sidelined from the most recent attack due to an internal dispute.
Read also:
- Mahama appoints Aaron Kanor as acting customs commissioner
- Stakeholders push to increase school feeding fee to GH¢5
- Punishment alone won’t solve student behaviour, moral guidance needed – Irene Sam
- Foreign Affairs Ministry announces closure of premium passport application centres in Accra and Kumasi
- Bongo DCE dies after short illness Bongo District Chief Executive, Joseph Abaa Akaseke, Passes Away After Brief Illness
On 21 February, Kojo Amponsah, also known as “Kamakazi”, 35, was arrested at Hwireso near Boankra. His interrogation, police said, linked the group to several violent robberies involving Toyota Hilux vehicles in Kumasi.
Ringleader killed
Police identified the alleged leader of the group as Eric Antwi Duku, 42, who sustained gunshot wounds during an operation late on Feb. 22 and was later pronounced dead. Items recovered from him included a pistol, live ammunition, a tracking detection device, forged vehicle documents and a Toyota Corolla saloon car.
Later that night, Emmanuel Kwame Appiah, also known as “Taller”, 38, was arrested at Danyame in Kumasi. Police said he acted as the syndicate’s driver during the fatal Ohwim-Amanfrom robbery.
Investigators said the group specialised in targeting Toyota Hilux vehicles, carrying out prior surveillance on victims and increasingly using lethal force to facilitate thefts.
Fatal robberies
Police linked the suspects to at least two fatal robberies in the Ashanti Region, including the Feb. 10 killing of Amankwah and a separate attack at Kronum in which a Toyota Hilux belonging to the Ghana National Association of Teachers was stolen.
The suspects have also confessed to multiple robberies in Tarkwa, police said, and provided intelligence on the movement of stolen vehicles towards Ghana’s northern border corridor.
“The Ghana Police Service remains resolute in dismantling violent criminal networks operating within the Ashanti Region and beyond,” Arthur said, urging the public to continue providing information to support security operations.
