Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have uncovered a factory where stolen vehicles from across the country are refurbished and sold to unsuspecting buyers.
Five cars have already been refurbished and awaiting unsuspecting buyers while over 12 others were undergoing the process of being refurbished when the police swooped on the suspects.
The workshop is located at Ambassador Leo Okogwu Street, Asaba, the state capital.
Among those in the process of being refurbished are a Toyota Highlander Jeep, with registration number AKD 703 AE (LAGOS), snatched at gun point in Enugu State this week; and a Mitsubishi bus, with registration number EG 743 GGE (Lagos).
Others with Lagos plate numbers are: DS 929 GGE, BB 526 AKD, EKY 403 AY, AAA 71 CH, EKY 497 BV, APP 18 AE, EKY 109 AV and JJT 403 AF.
Those with Enugu registration numbers include ENU 408 DE, BB 514 ENU and BT 887 ENU.
Imo State was not left out as a Toyota Corolla bore registration number SW 402 RLU. A bus with Anambra State registration number XC 299 AT was also there.
Parading the suspect at the scene of the crime, the state Commissioner of Police, Ayo Ikechukwu Aduba, supported by his new Police Public Relations Officer, Tina Kalu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the five suspects snatched the Highlander Jeep at gunpoint in Enugu a few days ago, without knowing that it had a tracker.
According to Aduba, following a tip-off, operatives quickly networked and formed a synergy, stormed the workshop located at Ambassador Leo Okogwu Street, Asaba and discovered the Toyota Highlander snatched from one Uche Osigwe at Ozo-Odogwu, opposite Phase 6 Trans-Ekulu area in Enugu State, there.
He said: “Consequently, we arrested five suspects, including one Kelechukwu Okoye (prime suspect), Chidiebere Owuse, Ekemefuna Odenigbo, Nzube Eze and Chinedu Agulobe.
“Equally, one Felix Ndah, suspected to be the owner of the property, and an accomplice, who earlier absconded, was later arrested through the assistance of Asaba Vigilate.”
The CP said the Highlander Jeep, the Mitsubishi and several plate numbers and instruments used for panel beating and painting of vehicles have since been recovered.
He equally said the suspects are helping the police in investigation “before they are charge to court.”
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