The Ghana Police Service has dealt a significant blow to organised vehicle theft in the Ashanti Region following the arrest of four members of a notorious carjacking gang known as the “Duku Syndicate.”
Addressing a press conference in Kumasi, Inspector General of Police Christian Tetteh Yohonu reaffirmed the Service’s determination to dismantle criminal networks operating across the country. He said sustained surveillance, technical intelligence and targeted operations led to the successful crackdown.
The operation, carried out on February 18 and 22, 2026, by the Ashanti Regional Police Command, resulted in the arrest of Akwasi Manu, Bashiru Tanko, Kwadwo Amponsah and Emmanuel Kwame Appea from various hideouts in Atonsu, Hwereso near Boankra, and Danyame near the military barracks.
The gang’s leader, Eric Antwi Duku, sustained gunshot wounds during an exchange with police and was later pronounced dead at a health facility.
Police investigations revealed that the syndicate specialised in snatching pick-up and Land Cruiser vehicles, particularly black and ash-coloured models, which were allegedly transported and sold through contacts in Paga. The group also reportedly had links in Offinso and Dubai, as well as collaborators at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) who assisted in preparing forged vehicle documents.
The syndicate has been linked to a series of robberies in Kumasi, Tarkwa and other parts of the Ashanti Region and had previously been on the wanted list of the Western Central Regional Command. Their method involved trailing victims before striking, often resorting to gunfire when resistance was encountered.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Osei Akoto Arthur, Ashanti Regional Police Commander, disclosed that items retrieved during the operation included a Bruni Mod 84 pistol, eight rounds of live ammunition, a tracking detection device, forged vehicle documents and a Toyota Corolla S belonging to the deceased gang leader. The exhibits are undergoing forensic and ballistic examination.
The IGP extended condolences to the family of the late Andrews Amankwaah, a victim of the gang, and commended officers and members of the public who provided critical intelligence leading to the arrests. He reiterated that the Police Service remains on a “war path” against organised crime and will continue to pursue criminal gangs wherever they operate.
