The Rivers State Police Command says it has uncovered and dismantled a notorious inter-state car theft syndicate with international links, arresting twelve suspects and recovering twenty-two stolen vehicles in a major breakthrough.
Among those arrested is a dismissed police officer, who was found in possession of eleven stolen vehicles.
The operation, described as intelligence-led, followed a report by one Enoch Daniel, who had his Toyota Hiace bus snatched at gunpoint in Onne, Eleme Local Government Area of the state.
Spokesperson for the Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the arrests in a statement on Thursday.
She said the syndicate had a network stretching across Rivers, Kano, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Delta, Taraba, Enugu and Borno states, with links to Cameroon, where the stolen vehicles were either sold in whole or dismantled for parts.
According to her, two of the suspects, who are ex-convicts, confessed to being hired for the operation and were paid ₦90,000 each. One of the arrested suspects also admitted to earning over ₦5 million from the crime within eight months.
The syndicate is allegedly coordinated by a man identified as Falco Ibrahim, who is currently at large. His agent, responsible for smuggling vehicles into Cameroon, is now in police custody.
The suspects include individuals posing as auto-electricians and even a self-styled pastor who served as a broker for the group. They were tracked and arrested in various states, including Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Kano.
Iringe-Koko said the Command’s operation highlights its determination to rid the state of criminal syndicates and restore public confidence in security agencies.
“All the suspects will be charged to court once investigations are concluded,” she said.
“We urge residents to remain vigilant and support the police with timely, credible information that can help in fighting crime.”
The Rivers Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all residents across the state.