Two suspects arrested as police recover stolen Lexus, laptops, phone, jewellery and other valuables allegedly being moved across Nigeria’s border for sale abroad.
The Oyo State Police Command has busted a suspected transnational criminal syndicate allegedly involved in receiving and trafficking stolen exotic vehicles across Nigeria’s borders for sale in foreign countries.
The breakthrough followed an intelligence-led operation by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), according to the command’s spokesperson, Ayanlade Olayinka.
The police said the operation was triggered by information obtained from a suspect already in custody over an armed robbery case involving about 10 victims.
According to the command, the suspect disclosed that he was familiar with a criminal network that specialised in receiving stolen vehicles and transporting them across the border.
Police said the suspect was subsequently allowed to operate his phone under controlled conditions, during which members of the syndicate allegedly sent him photographs of a vehicle they planned to steal and instructed him to arrange its reception and movement across the border.
Following intelligence shared by the Kwara State Police Command, Oyo police were alerted on August 24 about a 2017 Lexus RX 350 SUV allegedly stolen at gunpoint from a woman at her residence in Ilorin, alongside other valuables.
The Oyo Commissioner of Police subsequently directed the VCRU to mount an intelligence-led stop-and-search operation along the Ibadan-Ilorin Expressway.
At about 4:00 a.m. on August 25, operatives reportedly sighted the stolen Lexus and attempted to stop it. The occupants allegedly abandoned the vehicle and fled into the bush.
The ensuing chase led to the arrest of two suspects identified as 33-year-old Adewale Abiola and 36-year-old Kabiru Abobarin, also known as “KB”. One of the suspects reportedly sustained a gunshot injury to his left foot during the operation.
A search of the recovered Lexus allegedly led to the recovery of four HP laptops, an iPhone 15 Pro Max, seven wristwatches, jewellery and other valuables belonging to the victim.
The police said preliminary interrogation showed that the suspects allegedly received the vehicle from members of the syndicate who stole it in Ilorin.
They reportedly disclosed that they were transporting the vehicle towards the border, where an ECOWAS document was expected to be obtained to facilitate its movement into another country for sale.
The Commissioner of Police commended the VCRU operatives for their prompt response and effective use of intelligence, directing investigators to intensify efforts to identify and arrest other members of the network.
The command also acknowledged the cooperation between the Oyo and Kwara police commands, stressing that sustained inter-state collaboration is essential to disrupting organised and transnational criminal activities.
Police said investigations are ongoing to dismantle the wider syndicate and bring all those involved to justice.