ADVERTISEMENT

Suspects who specialise in selling stolen cars arrested

Two suspects specializing in the refurbishing and selling of stolen cars have been nabbed by the Special Anti Robbery Squad in Lagos

 

Lateef Ogunleye, 35 and Gbenga Olatunji, 45, were flushed out from their hideout after 10 years in the underworld, Saturday Sun reports.

Their modus operandi was buying stolen cars, changing the colour and perfecting the docu­mentation before moving them to the North to sell. After their arrest, they led the police to recover some of the cars that were sold within and outside Lagos.

The suspects were placed on the wanted list when their names kept coming up when armed robbers were arrested. When both suspects discovered they were wanted, they fled; Olatunji to Kano and Ogunleye to South Africa. What they didn't discover was that detectives led by the Officer in Charge of SARS, SP Abba Kyari kept tabs on them till they were finally arrested.

Speaking to the press at the police station, the first suspect, Ogun­leye, who claimed that he started the illegal business sometime in 2012, decided to secure a visa to South Africa in case anything goes wrong.

ADVERTISEMENT

He narrated:

“I made so much money and I knew it was illegal, so I was advised to get a visa in case I was wanted by the police. In 2013, I re­located to South Africa when I learnt that my main supplier Ismail was in SARS detention. It will be risky to stay in Nigeria because they were tracking and arresting people anyhow.

Since I had enough money, I travelled and got admission to study Electrical Engi­neering in Ressuct College in Pretoria, South Africa. I mobilised one of my boys to keep tabs on what is happening in SARS. I want­ed to know if they were after me and when they had stopped. Few months after I arrived, Daniel called that OC SARS; Abba Kyari was on his way to South Africa to find me. I was terrified and ran to Shoshangove, an area that is not developed. Everywhere in Pretoria, there is camera and I can be easily tracked. I stayed there for two weeks till I got another signal from Daniel that Kyari was back to Nigeria. He told me that I was not the reason he came to South Africa rather he visited the country to receive an award. This was when I returned to school”, Ogunleye narrated. Relieved, Ogunleye decided to return home. “I came back in October 2014 because I was running out of cash and my contacts have called severally that there are cars to be sold. Unfortunately, the first deal I did landed me in SARS detention. It’s like I was under a spell. I had all the opportunity to repent and remain in South Africa but the devil kept pushing me to come home,”

He claimed that it was his quest to make a living that he switched to crime. He added:

“Af­ter my graduation from Ibadan polytechnic, I moved down to Lagos in search of a job. It was not easy; all the banks to which I applied for a job, gave preference for women. I was introduced by a friend to start selling phones in computer village, Ikeja. Sometime in 2012, I met one Ismail who told me that there was a better and faster way of making money than standing under the sun selling phones. He told me the truth that those cars were stolen and would be sold at half the market value.

ADVERTISEMENT

Initially, I thought it was a joke, till he bought Toyota Camry 2000 at the price of N250,000. I sold it for N500,000 that was quick money. This was how I went into it full time for the past three years and so far I have received and sold sev­eral cars including a Toyota Highlander. According to him, the market value of the Toyota Highlander was N4 million but the robbers sold it to him for N900,000. I later sold the car N2.8 million. I had so much money and decided to secure visa to some countries. I did that when I learnt that most of my suppliers have been arrested and they mentioned my name.”,

The second suspect, Olatunji said he decided to patronize car snatchers when Customs of­ficials seized his cars in 2006. According to him:

“I know that it is a crime to smuggle in cars from another country. It was the only way one can make gain in this business. Unfortunately, I lost N5million in the process. So far, I have also received several cars including a Toyota Avenza, which they sold to me for N2 million and I sold it to the buyer for N4 milion. I discov­ered that cars can be easily sold in the North, which is why most of my cars were sold there. “I met Ibrahim who gave me a way out and since then business has been good, till I was arrested. When I heard that the robbers had been arrested, I quickly moved over to Kano. I still find it hard to believe that they traced me down there. I’m sorry.”

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

Here's everything to know about being a virgin on your wedding night

Here's everything to know about being a virgin on your wedding night

7 do's and don’ts of the Holy month of Ramadan

7 do's and don’ts of the Holy month of Ramadan

Top 5 sweetest celebrity mother-child relationships that stand out for us

Top 5 sweetest celebrity mother-child relationships that stand out for us

International Women's Day: 5 Nigerian female celebrities championing women’s rights

International Women's Day: 5 Nigerian female celebrities championing women’s rights

Top 5 female directors in Nollywood

Top 5 female directors in Nollywood

6 things that will break a Muslim's fast during Ramadan

6 things that will break a Muslim's fast during Ramadan

5 benefits of fasting during Ramadan

5 benefits of fasting during Ramadan

5 reasons Easter was more fun when we were children

5 reasons Easter was more fun when we were children

Dos and don’ts of supporting Muslims during Ramadan

Dos and don’ts of supporting Muslims during Ramadan

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT