Police in Kumasi have arrested five foreign nationals suspected to be behind a string of thefts targeting customers who withdrew large sums of money from banks.
Between November 2024 and June 2025, the suspects reportedly monitored and followed victims from banking halls, waiting for the moment they left their parked vehicles unattended before breaking in to steal the cash.
The suspects—Russell Ekenze, 29, Francis Friday, 49, Linus Agwazie, 51, Gifty Ozurumbam, and Gladys Ibrahim—were captured on surveillance footage and arrested through police intelligence efforts. Two Toyota Highlander vehicles used in the crimes have also been impounded.
At a press briefing on Monday, June 23, the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Emmanuel Teye Cudjoe, revealed that the syndicate operated in a coordinated manner.
“These individuals would alert their accomplices, who would trail the victim in their vehicles and strike when an opportunity presented itself,” he explained.
The group, believed to be responsible for the theft of GH¢497,000 from multiple victims, used tools like master keys or force to access vehicles and steal the money within minutes of the victim parking.
While five members have been apprehended, police say other accomplices remain at large, including Cosmas Maduabuchukwu, who is currently the subject of a manhunt.
The arrests follow months of complaints from residents across Kumasi who reported sudden losses of large sums shortly after visiting banks.
The Ashanti Regional Police Command is urging the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity, especially around financial institutions and parking areas.
