Ogun State Police Dismantle Multi State Car Theft Syndicate Following Arrest of Three Key Suspects

Ogun State detectives arrest three suspects and recover a pistol and stolen vehicles, including a Lexus RX 350, following an inter state investigation.

By: AXL Media

Published: May 1, 2026, 10:55 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from GUARDIAN Newspapers

The Systematic Takedown of an Armed Vehicle Syndicate

Law enforcement officials in Ogun State have successfully disrupted a sophisticated criminal network after a series of intelligence led operations. The suspects, identified as Hammed Olarewaju, Adedokun Ayinde, and Adedokun Adewusi, were taken into custody by the Anti Robbery Squad following a reported vehicle theft. According to DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, the Police Public Relations Officer, the investigation initially gained momentum when Olarewaju was found in possession of a suspicious license plate, which eventually guided detectives to the alleged gang leader, Adedokun Ayinde.

Recovery of Specialized Weaponry and Stolen Assets

During the initial phase of the police operation, detectives secured a Toyota Sienna that had been previously reported stolen. Alongside the vehicle, officers recovered a fabricated pistol, which investigators believe was a primary tool used by the suspects to intimidate victims during their robberies. This discovery has provided crucial forensic evidence linking the individuals to active armed robbery cases, shifting the investigation from simple larceny to more serious violent crime charges within the Ogun State jurisdiction.

The Geographic Reach of Criminal Operations

The scope of the syndicate’s activities appears to extend far beyond local boundaries, with stolen property traced to multiple major Nigerian cities. In a related development, a Toyota Corolla stolen from Ilaro was successfully recovered from a suspect in Ibadan, Oyo State. Furthermore, a 2017 Lexus RX 350 F-Sport was traced as far as Abuja, while an additional pistol linked to the same criminal group was located in the Ajah area of Lagos State. These findings suggest a highly coordinated logistics chain capable of moving stolen assets across state lines to avoid immediate detection.