Kumasi-Tema Stealing syndicate busted

Kumasi, July 17, GNA- The police in Kumasi has busted a stealing syndicate that defrauds people wanting to buy vehicles especially 207 Benz vehicles, and arrested Osei Kwadwo, one of the members. Four others including one 'Bozin' believed to be the ringleader and who styles himself as a Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) official, are on the run.
The others are Richard Adams, Yaw Osei and Eric Boateng, all believed to be hiding in Tema.
Briefing the press in Kumasi on Friday about the activities of the syndicate, Chief Superintendent of Police Paul Siaw, Ashanti Regional Crime Officer, told the press that the group had since February this year, succeeded in duping more than 10 traders several millions of cedis under the pretext of selling them 207 Benz vehicles direct from the Tema harbour at cheaper prices.
He said Osei Kwadwo who resides in Kumasi, served as the linkman who takes the victims to Tema to see Bozin after collecting money from them and abandoned them in Tema.
Chief Supt Siaw said sometime in June this year, one Kwadwo Gyimah approached him at Dichemso and told him that his master Boachie-Yiadom wanted to buy two 207 Benz vehicles for commercial purposes and that if he knew anyone who could help him he should direct his master Boachie-Yiadom.
The Regional Crime Officer said Osei Kwadwo consequently introduced Boachie-Yiadom to Richard Adams as the one who could help him since he had a brother who was a CEPS official in Accra and could get him the vehicles at very reasonable price.
He said Adams therefore asked Boachie-Yiadom to accompany him to the Tema harbour where they were to meet the "Bozin". He said Bozin he told the victim that he needed 100 million cedis for the processing of some papers before the vehicles could be released to him.
Chief Supt Siaw said when Boachie-Yiadom gave the money to Bozin, he asked him to wait at an area not far from the harbour whilst he and Adams went to the harbour to complete the processing of the papers but they never returned.
He said when the victim realised that he had been duped, he reported the matter to the police and on his return to Kumasi, he caused the arrest of Osei Kwadwo last Saturday.
The suspect has since been put before court, Chief Supt Siaw said. 17 July 04