'Ringleader' in $3.2 million smuggled Mercedes Benz case busted
- The Police have arrested suspects behind the $3.2m smuggled Mercedes Benz cars
- The suspects were arrested at a hideout in Ho in the Volta Region
The Police in Volta Region have arrested a 44-year old businessman suspected to have played a crucial role in the smuggling of the two luxury Mercedes Benz vehicles impounded by National Security recently.
The businessman, Darlington Kupualor, and his accomplice only identified only as ‘Africa’, 48-years-old, were both arrested in a swoop on Thursday dawn in their hideout in the Volta Region.
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It could be recalled that, the security services in January this year confiscated two luxury vintage Mercedes Benz vehicles said to have a street value of $3.2 million after being smuggled into the county without required documents.
The two vehicles; Mercedes Benz 300 SL, (white colour) costs about $1.8 million and Mercedes Benz 190 SL, black [$1.4 million].
A joint police team in operation succeeded in seizing the smuggled cars, after the Ketu South Municipal Chief Executive, Elliot Edem Agbenorwu blew the cover of the syndicate.
The MCE told security officials that the smugglers forced their way into his residence and hid the two luxurious vehicles, despite warning them of similar acts in the past.
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According to a Myjoyonline.com report, the two vehicles belong to a popular Accra-based businessman and philanthropist, Nana Kwame Bediako.
Mr Bediako told Myjoyonline.com in an interview that, he genuinely bought the cars from Stuttgart in Germany, and contracted an agent to ship them to Ghana.
However, the agent smuggled the vehicles into the country through unapproved route without the required customs documents.
This is said to have resulted in the state losing revenue to the the tune of GHȻ 12 million.
Meanwhile, Darlington Kupualor is said to have engaged in the smuggling business for more than a decade.
Some reports say he has facilitated the smuggling of over a hundred Range Rover vehicles, several Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and saloon cars into the country without paying duty.
The suspects have so far been transferred to the Police Headquarters in Accra pending further investigations and trial.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
