A commercial crime unit (CCU) of the criminal investigations department has apprehended a middle aged woman suspected to be the gang leader of all female fraudsters operating within the Accra Metropolis.
Suspect Mary Sewaa Afedzi who also operated with names like Rosemary Amoah, Araba, Cotton One, according to the police, engages only in merchandise business.
The modus operandi of the suspect and her cohorts, according to a statement signed by the Assistant Superintendent of Police, Olivia Turkson, the Public Relations Officer in charge of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) was to collect items such as chairs, cooking oil, air conditioners, alcoholic beverages and others from traders and escape with them without paying for them.
She said several traders from Tesano, Achimota and other commercial places in parts of Accra had fallen victim to the activity of these gangsters.
“Suspect is currently in police custody assisting in investigations,” she said.
ASP Turkson has therefore cautioned the public, especially, traders to do due diligence before handing over their goods to any customer they deal with in the course of their business transactions.
“Traders and other business owners should also cross-check payment orders with banks and conduct background checks on businesses of their partners before issuing goods.”
However, she added that the public, especially, those who have fallen victim to these fraudsters in a similar manner can report at the Commercial Crime Unit (CCU) of the CID Headquarters to identify the suspect.
By Linda Tenyah-Ayettey