Car-stealing Syndicate Uncovered - Interpol Ghana

Interpol Ghana said on Thursday that it had in collaboration with its foreign counterparts uncovered a syndicate operating in stolen cars in the country.

A statement issued in Accra said the group, which has partners overseas, takes delivery of these cars that were sometimes obtained through armed robbery and then shipped them to their accomplices in Ghana who cleared and sold them.

It said at the moment two of such vehicles had been impounded at the instance of the Interpol and were at the CID Headquarters.

One of them is a Mercedes Benz C 240 with registration number AL 700 UGH, Chassis number WDN2030611F17220 and engine number 11291230793855. This car, it said, was taken by armed robbers at gunpoint in Doplin Estates in Okoyi, Lagos, on December 12, 2000.

The other is Mitsubishi Pajero with chassis number JMBLYV78WIJ002540, with Belgium registration number FLY833. It belonged to Moorkens Car Division in Belgium and was stolen on October 16, 2000 in Belgium.

The statement said both cars were traced to the garage of Jobesh Car Rental Company owned by Joseph Ekow Baisie Haizel who was under investigations for allegedly being part of the syndicate that dealt in stolen cars from abroad.

It said the investigations had so far revealed that both cars which were bought and registered at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority had fake documents covering them.

The statement advised the public to crosscheck with Interpol Ghana when purchasing vehicles with doubtful documents cover. It said Interpol Ghana, under its obligations to the international community and law, would under no circumstance tolerate anyone or group of persons who through clandestine moves tried to use such cars in the country.

"Interpol would ensure that all cars that manage to reach the country through wrongful means of acquisition were investigated when notified by their counterparts abroad and appropriate action taken," the statement added.