The Economic and Organised Crime Office known as EOCO has successfully recovered thirteen luxury vehicles that were allegedly stolen from the United States of America and Canada before being smuggled into Ghana. A GhanaWeb report indicates that the operation was part of a broader move to clamp down on the illicit trade of stolen vehicles across international borders.
According to official details shared in a Daily Guide Network report the intercepted vehicles include high end brands such as Land Rover Range Rover Mercedes Benz and BMW. The operation was conducted in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to identify the vehicles through their identification numbers. These agencies confirmed that the cars had been flagged as stolen in their respective countries of origin.
A statement from the Economic and Organised Crime Office noted that the suspected smuggled vehicles were retrieved from various locations and car dealerships within the Greater Accra Region. The suspects found in possession of these vehicles at the time of the exercise are currently assisting with investigations to uncover the local and international networks involved in the syndicate. This information was further corroborated by a report from Citi Newsroom which highlighted the ongoing nature of the probe.
The Economic and Organised Crime Office has directed all persons claiming ownership of the seized vehicles to produce valid documentation or face permanent forfeiture to the state. Officials stated that failure to provide proof of legal acquisition would lead to the prosecution of the involved parties under the Economic and Organised Crime Office Act 2010. The recovered cars are currently being held at a secured facility pending further court processes and potential repatriation to their rightful owners abroad.