Three Nigerian nationals have been sentenced to prison for their involvement in a string of vehicle thefts across the Kumasi Metropolis.

The convicts — Francis Friday, Linus Agwazie, and Russell Ekenze — were arrested on June 20, 2025, by officers of the Suame Divisional Police Command during targeted operations against car theft syndicates.

Appearing before the Atasemanso Circuit Court on July 22, 2025, Ekenze pleaded guilty and received a 10-year jail term with hard labour (IHL).

His accomplices, Friday and Agwazie, initially pleaded not guilty, but after a full trial, Circuit Court 3 on July 23 convicted them on two counts each and sentenced them to 8 years imprisonment (to run concurrently).

On the same day, Circuit Court 1 imposed an additional 20-year concurrent sentence on all three men for related offences. Ekenze was further convicted by Circuit Court 2 on July 24, receiving another 10-year concurrent term.

The three are currently serving their sentences at the Kumasi Central Prison.

The Ashanti Regional Police Command described the convictions as a significant breakthrough in the fight against organised and cross-border criminal networks.

The Command urged the public to continue providing intelligence and reporting suspicious activities to help prevent crime.