A recent report by U.S. authorities has allegedly named Ghana as part of a sprawling international car theft syndicate shipping stolen vehicles across the Atlantic.
The disclosure was made after six individuals were charged for stealing at least 20 vehicles across Washington metropolitan area and Pennsylvania.
These stolen vehicles, according to a 15-count indictment unsealed in a U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia are then shipped to Ghanaians and United States buyers.
This development has garnered diverse reactions from scores of Ghanaians and beyond.
In 2025, the Ghana Police Service, in collaboration with the Netherlands Embassy and the international security firm Digitpol, intercepted ten trafficked vehicles in Ghana.
Speaking during a press briefing on Saturday, September 20, 2025, the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, revealed that the trafficked vehicles following the investigations were recovered in Accra, Cantonments, Nima and Kantamanto.
“Recently, the Police collaborated with the Netherlands Embassy and Digitpol, a security company that works closely with the Netherlands Police, to track and recover stolen vehicles trafficked into Ghana. These vehicles, which had been reported stolen from the Netherlands, were tracked to Ghana. These vehicles were recovered in parts of Accra, including Kantamanto, Nima, and Cantonments,” she revealed.
The operation, which took place from September 15 to September 17 this year, led to the recovery of eight cars, including Toyota RAV4s and two Toyota CH-Rs.
COP Lydia explained that the tracking and recovery of these trafficked vehicles form part of the government’s efforts to clamp down on the growing challenge of transnational vehicle crime — a problem she said drains the government’s coffers and tarnishes Ghana’s reputation, making it an attractive hub for crime syndicates and other illegal activities.
“The Criminal Investigations Department has intensified efforts to address the growing challenge of transnational vehicle crime. Vehicle theft not only causes financial loss to victims but also tarnishes Ghana’s international reputation and fuels other criminal activities. As part of its efforts, the CID has been working with national stakeholders, including the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, as well as international partners and embassies of affected countries,” she detailed.
Consequently, she advised prospective buyers to be vigilant in their car purchasing transactions.
“Prospective buyers are strongly advised to demand proof of ownership from the country of origin. Vehicle details can also be verified with INTERPOL Accra before finalising any purchase,” adding that “these operations highlight the importance of international cooperation in fighting vehicle-related crimes. The operation is ongoing unabated. A lot more vehicles have been identified, and in the coming days, we are going to be tracking and retrieving them.”
COP Lydia’s caution to prospective buyers comes on the back of laws in Ghana that criminalise the purchase of stolen vehicles. Both the seller and the buyer are declared complicit in such crimes.
Ghana’s Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), Section 146, declares that, “Whoever dishonestly receives any property which he knows or has reason to believe to have been stolen, fraudulently obtained, or unlawfully converted, is guilty of a second-degree felony.”
The subsequent section, Section 147, also states that “Whoever receives any property under such circumstances as would cause a reasonable person to suspect that the property had been stolen or unlawfully obtained, and fails to make reasonable inquiries as to the ownership of the property, shall be presumed to have dishonestly received the property.”
Recently, Ghana’s dancehall artist Charlkes Nii Armah, popularly referred to as Charles Nii Armah was invited for questioning by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) following his alleged involvement in a fraud case regarding his purchase of a Lamborghini Urus a car identified by the FBI and the US Justice Department as proceeds of a $4 million crime.
The $4 million crime involves Nana Kwabena Amuah, a Ghanaian who is currently serving a jail term in the USA..
He was detained and later granted bail. While in detention, a mass of his fans gathered in front of the EOCO office on Thursday, demanding his release.
According to EOCO, Charles Nii Armah Mensah was unable to identify the person from whom he purchased the said Lamborghini Urus vehicle.
He is reported to have said he purchased it from the “Street” and from someone possibly called “ZAK” who may have contacted him on WhatsApp but whose identity he does not know and whose contact he has thrown away.
Also, EOCO states that Charles Nii Armah Mensah does not also possess any documentation in terms of receipt or transfer documents which shows that he owns or purchased the said vehicle except a customs declaration document in his possession bearing the name of Nana Kwabena Amuah, who is currently in jail.
