The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has revealed that about 300 stolen vehicles shipped into Ghana have been identified through joint investigations with the FBI and Canadian police since 2022.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, EOCO legal officer Paa Bruce Sam explained that about 60 of these vehicles have already been seized through court processes and are being prepared for return to their rightful owners.
“In collaboration with the FBI, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Canadian Police, in 2022, we began the seizure of stolen vehicles shipped into Ghana, and we discovered about 300 possible stolen vehicles,” he said.
He cautioned that individuals unable to prove ownership or the legitimate source of a vehicle, if found in their possession, face serious legal consequences.
“Under Section 146 of the Criminal Offences Act, anyone found in possession of stolen property can be arraigned and prosecuted. So if one of these cars is found in your possession and you are not able to prove ownership or that you do not know it is a stolen vehicle, you will be processed for court and also be charged with money laundering,” Sam added.
He further clarified that EOCO’s operations are not based on random road checks but are intelligence-driven, relying on data analysis to track stolen vehicles smuggled into the country.
This disclosure comes days after EOCO named Honda CR-Vs, Ford F-150 pickups, Range Rovers, and Dodge models as the top vehicle brands under suspicion in its latest operation against stolen cars trafficked into Ghana.
Interpol has described Ghana as a lucrative hub for vehicles stolen mainly from Canada and the United States. EOCO’s investigations confirm that these four brands account for the majority of cases intercepted in recent months.
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