A man identified as Edward Edem Atigah, posing as an operative of the United States (US) Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) or National Intelligence Bureau, previously known as Bureau National Investigation (BNI), has been busted at the Tema Port.
Other accounts also say Atigah claims to work for the National Security under the Police CID headquarters.
He stormed the country’s busiest entry point, specifically the Golden Jubilee Terminal, claiming to be on operation for the Interpol, inspecting and taking photographs of cleared vehicles.
A disturbing video of the alleged impersonator being confronted by workers and port security shows him, storming out of the one of the offices dressed in faded black jeans with Lacoste, resisting what looks like an arrest or a search.
In the video, immediately he stepped out, the Port’s security made the attempt to arrest him, while a mob watched closely, but he resisted, retorting angrily that the officials in the face that they cannot arrest him.
He fumed “Don’t hold me, don’t touch me…..Nobody can do me foko (anything), nobody can do me anything”. In the process, he allegedly broke a glass door belonging Ghana Ports and Habours Authority (GPHA).
After that brief outburst, he was seen in the 3:12 seconds video, standing there with the officers following which he was instructed to enter into the office he earlier visited.
He is believed to be part of a syndicate that has been extorting moneys from car owners and dealers after they clear their consignments.
This paper’s sources within the security set say “After looking into what he’d been up to, investigators found out that Atigah had been hanging around the terminal illegally. He was stopping vehicles that had already been properly cleared through customs, telling people their cars were stolen when they weren’t. The whole operation was completely unauthorized. Atigah has now been turned over to appropriate investigative authorities”.
His act comes at a time the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) with the help of FBI, has been pouncing on high profile and luxurious vehicles flagged as stolen from mainly the US and the United Kingdom (UK).
The modus operandi The New Republic gathered is that the moment these cars are cleared, they quickly go round the car park under the pretence of inspecting and conducting government assigned investigation.
Following that they take pictures and forward to their cohorts.
Immediately he sends the photographs, those on the other side of the cartel call the car owners and alarmingly tell them they have imported stolen vehicles.
They then proceed to demand payments of GHS25, 000 to GHS50, 000 depending on the said car, before they can have full possession of the cars.
Knowing how issues of stolen car can drag these days, their victims pay for these amounts to free themselves from any trouble. But apparently, no receipt or document is given for the payments of these amount obviously because their activities are not sanctioned by authorities.
The sizeable crowd which gathered at the scene lamented how moneys ranging from between GHS25, 000 to GHS40, 000 are regularly extorted from them.
One of the eyewitnesses complained bitter how they have suffered in the hands of these swindlers. He was seen shouting on top of his said “While you drive they seize your car and demand 20, 000, 40, 000”.
One other too was heard saying in Twi that they should give him what he wants so that he leaves them alone.
From his demeanor, so social media have been a washed with speculations that he could be drawing power from people from high places reason he could resist arrest and boldly walk in the environs to do what he claims to be doing.
Since EOCO pounced on certain members of the public, including politicians and entertainers for buying stolen vehicles, some individuals have taken advantage of the situation to extort money from unsuspecting members of the public.
Last month, an official of EOCO had to clarify that, the public do not allow themselves to be harassed by anyone purporting to be coming from their office.
Head, Legal and Prosecution, EOCO, Leo Anthony Siamah said anyone that comes to them to inspect their property should be asked for identification (ID) card or they do not allow them.
Speaking in the midst of the arrest and detention of dancehall artiste Charles Nii Armah popularly known as Shatta Wale, he said the office has observed attempts by fraudsters to extort money and deceive unsuspecting victims under the guise of recovering vehicles.
He stressed that EOCO has a comprehensive process for vehicle recovery and does not send individuals to carry out such exercises without proper documentation.
“If anybody comes to you that they are selling or trying to recover vehicles for EOCO, check their identity. Our official numbers are available online. You can call the office to confirm if anything of that sort is going on,” he said on TV3’s Keypoints programme in August.
Siamah explained that vehicle seizures by EOCO are backed by official documentation and should not be released to anyone without verification.
He further revealed that many vehicles in the possession of high-profiled individuals have turned out to be stolen, even though they were not part of the initial list of 300 cars EOCO published earlier this year.
He warned that anyone who accepts stolen cars to keep, maintain, or conceal is aiding and abetting a criminal offence.
“Without the proper documentation, nobody should release their vehicles unless a properly identified officer from EOCO comes to you,” he stressed.
By Gifty Boateng