BY Daniel Bampoe
The Ghana Police Service has dismantled a notorious taxi-based mobile phone snatching syndicate operating across Accra and its surrounding communities, following months of intelligence gathering, technical surveillance and coordinated operations.
The arrest of the suspects marks a major breakthrough in ongoing efforts by the police to curb the growing trend of street-level robberies and opportunistic crimes targeting commuters, particularly women, in commercial vehicles.
According to the police , the operation was led by the National Operations Directorate (NOD) Surveillance Unit, working closely with the NOD Emergency Command Centre.
The coordinated action culminated on January 12, 2026, with the arrest of three men believed to be core members of an organised criminal network that used taxi cabs as a front to steal mobile phones and other valuables from unsuspecting passengers.
The suspects have been identified as Sasu Lawrence, also known as “Agbe”, aged 45; Richard Osei, aged 36; and Charles Kofi Nti, popularly called “Survivor”, aged 40.
Investigators say the group had perfected a deceptive modus operandi that enabled them to operate undetected for months across several communities in the Greater Accra Region.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the syndicate typically operated in the early hours of the day, when commuters were rushing to work and more likely to use taxis.
Disguised as commercial taxi drivers, the suspects would pick up passengers—often women—with two members sitting in the front seats and a third positioned at the back. Once a victim boarded the vehicle, the doors were deliberately locked to restrict movement. As the victim attempted to exit upon reaching her destination, the suspect at the back would feign assistance, during which a mobile phone or wallet would allegedly be stolen.
In some cases, victims were threatened before being forced out of the vehicle.
Police investigations were triggered by a formal complaint lodged on November 17, 2025, by a female victim who reported that she boarded a taxi from Nmai Dzorn to Adenta Aviation.
Upon arrival, the occupants of the vehicle allegedly threatened her and forcibly took her iPhone 14 before ordering her to alight.
The incident prompted intensified intelligence-led investigations, including technical surveillance, which led to the identification of a black-and-orange Toyota Vitz believed to be used in several of the thefts.
Further intelligence revealed that the suspects frequently moved between Kasoa, Taifa, Pokuase, Amasaman and nearby communities to evade detection.
On January 12, 2026, police surveillance systems tracked the suspect vehicle to Weija, where Sasu Lawrence was intercepted and arrested. Subsequent operations later that day led officers to Pokuase Mayera, where Richard Osei was arrested after attempting to flee upon noticing the police.
A green Daewoo Matiz, suspected to be linked to the syndicate’s activities, was retrieved as an exhibit.
The operation concluded at Doblo Gonno, where Charles Kofi Nti was found hiding in a room within his residence.
A search of the premises led to his arrest, completing the takedown of the three-man gang believed to be central to the criminal enterprise.
Police investigations have also identified individuals suspected of receiving and trading in the stolen mobile phones.
Among them are Williams Ampong, aged 47, who reportedly sells phones around Circle, and Frederick Kwaku Gyadu, aged 50, who operates at Achimota.
Efforts are ongoing to arrest these alleged receivers and dismantle the wider network that supports the syndicate’s operations.
All three suspects are currently in police custody assisting with investigations, while authorities continue to pursue other accomplices connected to the racket.
The Ghana Police Service has reiterated its commitment to protecting the safety of commuters and dismantling organised criminal networks that threaten public security.
The police have also urged members of the public to remain vigilant, especially when using commercial vehicles, and to promptly report suspicious behaviour or criminal activity to the nearest police station as part of a collective effort to reduce crime across the country.
