43 stolen, shipped luxurious cars retrieved by police

The Ghana Police Service has recovered 43 luxury vehicles smuggled into the country after being stolen from various parts of Europe and North America. The operation, led by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) between January and July 2025, uncovered high-end brands such as Rolls-Royce, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi.

At a press briefing on August 4, CID Director-General COP Lydia Yaako Donkor credited the breakthrough to intensified collaboration with national and international bodies, including the Ghana Revenue Authority’s Customs Division, INTERPOL, and the FBI.

“These partnerships have enhanced intelligence sharing, enabling us to trace and intercept vehicles involved in transnational crime,” COP Donkor stated.

Investigations revealed that many of the criminal syndicates behind the smuggling are also linked to broader illicit activities like identity theft, insurance fraud, money laundering, and visa card scams. Ghana’s role is increasingly emerging as a destination or transit point in global supply chains of stolen vehicles.

The cars originated from at least seven countries—Canada, the U.S., Germany, France, Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands, and Italy—known for their high demand and sophisticated logistics infrastructure, making them prime targets for theft.

COP Donkor disclosed that 18 cases have been fully investigated, and court orders have been issued for the return of those vehicles. Eight have already been repatriated, with 10 more in process. The remaining 25 are still under judicial review.

A key concern, she said, is the inability of importers in Ghana to prove ownership or legal purchase of the vehicles from their countries of origin. “Paying customs duties in Ghana does not legitimise the ownership of a stolen vehicle,” she warned.

With criminals increasingly using tactics like falsified documents and altered VINs, COP Donkor urged prospective car buyers and dealers to conduct thorough background checks and not rely solely on customs clearance as proof of legitimacy.

This operation follows similar regional efforts like “Operation Safe Wheels,” led by INTERPOL across 12 West African countries, which previously flagged over 150 stolen vehicles en route to Ghana.

Authorities have vowed to continue clamping down on vehicle crime and dismantling the networks behind it through cross-border cooperation and rigorous vetting procedures.