Nigeria police dismantle international car theft ring

Authorities in Nigeria's Oyo State have successfully dismantled a sophisticated transnational criminal syndicate accused of stealing luxury vehicles and smuggling them out of the country. The operation, spearheaded by the Oyo State Police Command, culminated in the arrest of two suspects and the recovery of a high-value stolen vehicle.

Acting on intelligence, operatives from the Violent Crime Response Unit conducted a targeted operation that led to the apprehension of Adewale Abiola, 33, and Kabiru Abobarin, 36, also known as “KB.” The investigation revealed that the suspects were part of a larger network involved in receiving stolen vehicles and preparing them for transit to foreign markets.

“

The Oyo Police Command has busted a trans-national and organised criminal network involved in the trafficking of stolen exotic vehicles across Nigeria’s borders for sale in foreign countries, following a successful intelligence-led operation by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit.

During the search of the recovered Lexus RX 350 SUV, police found valuable items belonging to the victim, including four HP laptops, an iPhone 15 Pro Max, and a collection of seven wristwatches and jewelry. The suspects reportedly confessed to receiving the stolen SUV from a syndicate that had taken it from its owner at gunpoint in Ilorin, Kwara State.

“

The suspects identified themselves as Adewale Abiola, male, 33 years, and Kabiru Abobarin, male, 36 years, also known as ‘KB.’

Their plan was to transport the vehicle towards Nigeria's border, where ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) documentation would be obtained to facilitate its movement into another country. The Oyo State Police Command stated that one of the arrested suspects, already in custody for an armed robbery case, provided crucial information about the syndicate's operations.

This breakthrough highlights the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing in combating organized crime. The collaboration between different state police commands, as indicated by the information received from the Kwara State Police Command regarding the stolen Lexus, is also crucial in disrupting these cross-border criminal activities.

“

A search of the recovered vehicle led to the recovery of valuables belonging to the victim, including four HP laptops, one iPhone 15 Pro Max, a bag containing seven wristwatches and some jewellery.