Concerns are mounting that more Ghanaians may unknowingly be driving stolen vehicles, following the outcome of a major operation led by the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL).
The coordinated exercise, code-named Safe Wheels, was carried out in partnership with national law enforcement agencies across 12 West African countries, including Ghana.
The operation uncovered an influx of stolen vehicles trafficked into the region through land and sea routes.
West Africa has long been a hub for used vehicle imports, with data suggesting Ghana alone receives about 900,000 second-hand cars annually.
According to INTERPOL, the growing appetite for luxury vehicles in particular has created a lucrative market for international car theft syndicates.
During the two-week operational phase, between 17 and 30 March 2025, participating countries set up an average of 46 checkpoints daily, inspecting more than 12,600 vehicles.
These were cross-checked against INTERPOL’s Stolen Motor Vehicle (SMV) database, which in 2024 recorded about 270,000 stolen cars globally.
The countries involved in the operation included Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabe Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria and Togo.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service says it is intensifying efforts to combat vehicle crime in collaboration with the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), and international partners such as INTERPOL and the FBI.
The Head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor, at a press briefing on Tuesday, August 19, assured that enforcement will be stepped up to safeguard the country against vehicle-related crime.
“The cases outlined today highlight Ghana Police Service’s unwavering commitment to investigating serious crimes and bringing perpetrators to justice.”
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