Ten people, including eight Chinese nationals and two Ghanaians, have been arrested by the Ghana Police Service over their alleged involvement in a syndicate linked to the theft and processing of Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) cables for export.
The suspects were picked up during a special intelligence-led operation at the Kpone Industrial Area in Tema on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, around 3:30 p.m.
The operation was carried out by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in collaboration with officials from the Ministry of Energy after authorities received information suggesting that stolen ECG cables were being processed at a facility belonging to Sentuo Company.
Speaking to journalists in Accra on Monday, March 9, Director-General of the CID, Lydia Yaako Donkor, said investigators moved in on the facility near Tema after verifying the intelligence.
According to her, police officers arrived at the premises and found about 70 workers allegedly cutting electricity service cables and stripping metal components from their insulation.
The exposed wires, she explained, were then being compressed into metal blocks believed to be prepared for export.
“The CID Headquarters Operations Unit, working together with officials from the Ministry of Energy, uncovered a large stockpile of service cables suspected to belong to the Electricity Company of Ghana and arrested 10 suspects linked to an organised cable theft and metal export network,” she told reporters.
Police said more than 100 drums filled with service cables believed to belong to ECG were discovered at the facility during the raid.
Investigators believe the quantity and condition of the materials indicate a well-organised and sustained operation targeting the country’s electricity infrastructure.
The two Ghanaian suspects have been identified as Samuel Ekpe and Priscilla Padu.
The other suspects, believed to be Chinese nationals holding managerial positions within the company, are Yuxiaoting, He Jing, Xu Changjiu, Li Lei, Chen Jin, Zheng Ma, Wang Jian and Bin Bin.
Police said security officers have been stationed at the premises around the clock to prevent the removal or tampering of any materials while investigations continue.
The Ghana Police Service described the bust as a significant breakthrough in efforts to clamp down on the theft of critical national infrastructure.
Authorities say the illegal removal and export of ECG cables has disrupted electricity supply to several communities, businesses and public institutions across the country.
Police have assured the public that investigations are ongoing and that all persons found to be involved in the operation will be prosecuted.