Ghana Police Dismantle Cross-Regional Car Theft Syndicate in Eastern Region; Seven Suspects Apprehended

The Inspector-General of Police’s Special Cyber Vetting and Enforcement Team (CVET) has successfully dismantled a sophisticated car theft syndicate operating across the Eastern Region of Ghana. In a coordinated, intelligence-led operation on May 25, 2026, law enforcement officials arrested seven suspects and retrieved three stolen luxury vehicles. The operation marks a significant victory for the Ghana Police Service in its ongoing efforts to combat organized crime through the strategic integration of advanced digital tracking and traditional field intelligence.

The sting operation was triggered by a formal complaint from a car owner regarding the theft of an unregistered blue Hyundai Elantra. Utilizing high-tech geolocation and cyber forensics, the CVET, in collaboration with the Police Intelligence Directorate, traced the vehicle to a hideout in Roman Down, Asamankese. Upon raiding the compound, officers not only recovered the reported Elantra but also discovered two additional stolen Hyundai Sonatas. The seven arrested suspects, whose ages range from 24 to 38, are believed to have played various specialized roles within the criminal network, from the initial theft to the preparation of the vehicles for resale.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the syndicate’s operations extend well beyond the Eastern Region, maintaining strong links to the capital. The criminal group reportedly specialized in re-registering stolen vehicles with forged documents and fake licenses before selling them to unsuspecting buyers in Accra. The sophisticated nature of the syndicate highlights an increasing trend of tech-savvy criminal organizations, which the police are now countering with their own specialized cyber vetting and enforcement capabilities.

Currently, the seven suspects remain in custody, where they are assisting the police with ongoing investigations aimed at identifying other members of the network and retrieving more stolen property. The recovered vehicles are undergoing forensic examinations to verify their origins and link them to other pending cases. The Ghana Police Service has urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities related to carjacking and vehicle theft, emphasizing that community cooperation remains vital to dismantling such syndicates.