Odumase police on manhunt for carjacking ringleader who turns stolen cars into coal pots

Police in Odumase have launched a manhunt for Solomon Siaw Tetteh, the suspected ringleader of a car theft syndicate operating within the Krobo enclave in Ghana’s Eastern Region.

Tetteh is alleged to head a network that follows unsuspecting vehicle owners to their homes before stealing the cars under the cover of night.

According to investigators, the stolen vehicles are taken to a secret location in Nuaso, in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality, where the syndicate dismantles them in a remarkably bold operation.

In a surprising twist, authorities say the criminals go as far as cutting up the vehicle bodies and converting the metal into coal pots. Meanwhile, valuable parts such as engines, tyres, and seats are stripped and sold separately on the black market.

The syndicate's activities came to light after they stole a Hyundai H100 van from a driver in Nkurakan, near Koforidua. Unbeknownst to the thieves, the van was fitted with a GPS tracker. The vehicle's owner received a real-time alert and immediately contacted the police.

Acting on the tracking data, a team of officers from the Police Headquarters and the Odumase and Nuaso police units mounted a coordinated operation at the location where the signal was traced. The raid led to the arrest of three individuals at the scene, who later confessed to being part of the criminal ring.

Tetteh, however, narrowly escaped the ambush after reportedly receiving a tip-off moments before the police arrived. His hideout was later discovered near the site where the stolen van was found.

Police say the operation to arrest the fugitive leader and dismantle the entire syndicate remains active. The three suspects are currently in custody, assisting with investigations. Authorities are urging the public to come forward with any information that could lead to Tetteh’s arrest.