The Rivers State Police Command said its operatives had busted a sophisticated inter-state car snatching syndicate with a foreign network. Twelve suspects were arrested, and 22 vehicles were recovered.
The police said among the suspects was a dismissed police officer who had 11 cars as of the time of his arrest, while three ex-convicts who were hired into the illicit deal were also arrested by operatives.
Spokesperson of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Thursday and sent to newsmen.
Iringe-Koko said the arrest followed a major intelligence-led operation after one of their victims, identified as Enoch Daniel, had his Toyota Hiace snatched at gunpoint in Onne, Eleme Local Government Area of the state.
She further disclosed that one of the arrested suspects confessed to having earned N5 million in eight months as proceeds from the crime, saying some members of the syndicate were traced to Akwa Ibom and Kano states respectively, where they were apprehended.
The police image maker said the feat underscores the command’s resolve to make Rivers State uncomfortable for criminal elements and syndicates and called on residents to remain vigilant and support the police with credible information.
