I made my wealth through buying of stolen cars, says suspect

A suspect, arrested in connection with car theft, has confessed that he acquired his wealth through buying and selling of stolen cars.

The suspect, Samuel Adebeshin, 56, without mincing words, told operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Lagos State Police Command, that he knew the cars were stolen ones even before he bought them from the car thieves.

When Adebeshin was arrested, eight cars were recovered from him. According to the police, Adebeshin and his cronies specialised in trans-border crime and stealing vehicles in Lagos. The gang allegedly used to move the stolen vehicles to Ogun State and Republic of Benin.

Adebeshin, residing at 13 Kobape Road, Abeokuta, and his accomplice, Adeyemi Kamoru, 50, said the eight vehicles were all stolen at different locations in Lagos.

 
Adebeshin, who is married to two wives and seven children, said: "I built my first house, an 8 room-bungalow in 2006, and the second one, two flats in 2015 where I keep the stolen vehicles as they arrive from Lagos. Once they bring the cars for me, we would repaint it, change their number plates and chassis numbers, and take them to neighbouring countries for sale. I have been in auto business for 30 years. I know all these cars brought to me were all stolen cars, but I thought I was safe enough here in my palatial compound.”

The downfall of the gang started after operatives of RRS, who were working on a reported case of stolen Toyota Corolla from where it was parked in Ikeja Business District, Lagos, tracked the vehicle on Thursday night to a compound in Kobape, Abeokuta, belonging to a car dealer.
The Toyota Corolla, grey, 2004 model with registration number, KRD 759, belonging to Mrs. Olaitan Lawal, was removed from the car park during a church programme at Ikeja, around 6:00 pm before it was found around 1:00 a.m. on Friday.

Lawal said: “I took my car to the church and I parked it at the space designated for parking. After the church service, I went back to pick my car to go home, but I couldn’t find the car. Immediately, I called Lagos emergency line on 112 and I reported to the representative. I also went straight to Area F in Ikeja, to equally lodge the complaint. At the station, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) connected me to the Commander of RRS, Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Olatunji Disu, as capable hand to handle the case.”

Lawal said that she further called Disu, who assured that her car would soon be found.

She said that around 12: 15am, Disu called and asked her to describe her car. After describing it, he told her car had been located in Abeokuta.

She said: “I couldn’t believe my ears. In about six-hour interval, my car was found!"
The RRS' surveillance team moved to Abeokuta that same night and arrested two of the prime suspects.

Speaking further, Adebeshin said: “Two years ago, I met Kamoru Adeyemi. He was the middleman between me and the car thieves. He was the one who introduced Alhaji Tajudeen and one honourable, both still at large, to me as car dealers and ‘crossers’ from Benin Republic. Later on, I discovered they were car snatchers from Lagos. At this point, I couldn’t back out from the deal. Anytime they bring cars to me, it was Adeyemi whom I used to give money to pay others. I didn't want people to identify me with them."

According to him, in 2014, he bought one Honda from the car thieves at the rate of N300, 000, which market value was N900, 000 back then and later sold it for N450, 000.

Recalling the event leading to his downfall, he said: “On Thursday, Adeyemi called me that our boys have brought another Toyota Corolla for sale. By this time, I wasn't at home, but I instructed my first son to open gate for them. The car was parked in my premises, awaiting the usual refurbishment and painting. However, around 12:30 a.m, a team of policemen came to my house and asked me to give account of the Toyota Corolla car. I opened up to them. I told them that all those involved are Adeyemi, Alhaji Tajudeen Bello and Honourable. They brought all those cars to me. I took the Police to Adeyemi's residence where he was arrested while others are still at large."

Stating his own side of the story, Adeyemi said that poverty and financial frustration pushed him into crime.

On his part, Adeyemi disclosed that poverty pushed him into the crime. He confessed: “I met Adebeshin some years back. Before now, I do assist him to cross vehicle from Benin to Nigeria. Anytime those boys went for operation and succeeded, they will call me, and I will inform him that we have another car. And I will drive the car to his premises in Kobape where buyers usually come to buy them.
He explained, "In any deal we do, they paid me Thirty - Thousand Naira. On this day, one of the car snatchers called me to meet them at Sagamu interchange. On getting there, I found out they have another stolen car.
According to him, "I led them from Sagamu interchange to Adebesin's house. Alhaji drove the stolen car, while Bello drove Pontiac black colour. This was the first time I will be arrested in connection with stolen cars. It was poverty and frustration that led me to this criminal act".
The other seven vehicles recovered from Adebeshin's compound were Mercedes Benz 230; Acura MDX; Murano, Volkswagen Passat station wagon, Renault, Pontiac and Toyota Camry.
The Lagos State Police Spokesperson, Superintendent of Police, SP Dolapo Badmus, said the suspects are helping the Police with investigations. She added that efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the syndicate