BY VINCENT UJUMADU

AWKA — A SIX-member car snatching syndicate operating in Anambra, Kogi and Rivers states has been smashed by men of the Department of State Service, DSS, in Anambra State.

Members of the gang are Nworah Ibe from Enugu State, Levi Kelechi Eze from Imo State, Joseph Igboji and James Ukoh both from Ebonyi State,.

Stand-by buyers of the stolen cars include  Titus Duruaku and Victor Ndubuisi.

State director of DSS, Mr. Alex Okeiyi, who paraded them at Awka headquarters of the agency, identified the syndicate as being responsible for increased car snatching activities in Anambra State in recent time.

According to Okeiyi, Ukoh and Igboji, who were arrested at Nkpor in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, confessed playing major roles in the syndicate, including harbouring members of the gang.

He also said that Ibe and Eze were arrested at Lokoja in Kogi State while trying to snatch a Honda Accord car from an unsuspecting victim at Ajaokuta.

Ibe also confessed to reporters that he started the business of snatching cars in 2009, adding that his gang’s first operation was when they drugged a driver of a Nissan Sunny in the FCT before taking away his car.

His colleague, Eze, said his special area was in disposing the snatched vehicles, adding that it was in the process of disposing stolen cars that men of DSS arrested him in Port Harcourt where he sold a Toyota Highlander and a Honda Accord for N800, 000 each before the syndicate was smashed.