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The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has raised an alarm on four car brands highly suspicious of being stolen cars in Ghana.
According to the Head of EOCO’s Legal Unit, Leo Anthony Siamah, car brands like Honda CR-Vs, Ford F-150 pickups, Range Rovers, and Dodge models are very high in terms of the number of stolen car they have retrieved.
Interpol has placed Ghana as one of the hubs of stolen cars in West Africa.
Leo Anthony Siamah warned buyers to be circumspect and conduct due diligence when buying certain models of cars.
The Head of EOCO’s Legal Unit speaking on Upfront stated, , “There are certain types of vehicles that are suspicious. For instance, the Honda CR-V series, the Ford F-150, the Range Rover, and I think the Dodge Ram. These are four brands that are very high in terms of the number of stolen vehicles we recover. Most of them happen to be these vehicles. So, obviously, if you are going to purchase one of those vehicles, that should be a red flag for you”.
He further added that the EOCO office is not limited to only those models. “We’ve gone after a couple of Toyota Highlanders and Honda Accords. So, it’s not like we have a preference,” Siamah clarified.
EOCO warned against buying too new and accident-free vehicles, especially 2023 and 2024 models, on the Ghanaian market.
“If you look at one of those vehicles that was recently released, maybe a 2023 model, 2024 model, which is accident-free, it should be a red flag for you. That should point you to doing extra — for instance, go to Interpol to find out whether or not that car’s status is stolen,” he recommended.
Meanwhile, COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, the Director General of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, just a day ago announced that they have impounded 43 high-value luxury vehicles stolen from across Europe.
According to COP Lyida Donkor, the high-value luxury vehicles were stolen from the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Canada, the USA, Germany, Italy, and France.
The CID Director General revealed that a collaboration between the CID, Customs and Interpol, DIGIPOL, and the FBI led to the recovery of about 43 vehicles.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, August 4, 2025, COP Lydia Donkor detailed, “These 43 vehicles are mainly high-value luxury vehicles such as Rolls-Royce, Audi Q8,
Porsche, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, etc., stolen from countries such as the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Canada, USA, Germany, Italy, and France”
“Out of the 43 vehicles that have been impounded, investigations have been completed and the courts have ordered that 18 of them should be repatriated to the countries of origin.
“Eight have already been repatriated, while ten are pending. Repatriation cases on the remaining 25 are still pending in court,” she said.
She added, “It is sad to note that in almost all the cases mentioned above, those who clear the vehicles in Ghana are unable to provide proof of ownership or purchase of the vehicles from the country of origin prior to their importation into Ghana.
Let me indicate here that payment of customs duties in Ghana does not mean that the vehicle was legitimately acquired from the country of origin”
“Let me indicate here that payment of customs duties in Ghana does not mean that the vehicle was legitimately acquired from the country of origin,” she added.
COP Lyida Donkor further detailed how the criminals smuggled 43 stolen luxury vehicles into Ghana.
She revealed that a special CID task force, set up to tackle vehicle-related crimes, gathered intelligence exposing the car smuggling criminal scheme.
She revealed that the vehicles are often rented from car rental companies in Ghana under false pretences.
“These criminals rent vehicles using fake identities. While the rental agreement is still valid, they secretly arrange for the vehicles to be shipped out.
Once they receive confirmation that the vehicle has been successfully exported, they stop paying the rental fees and cut off communication with the rental company,” she explained.
“We urge the public to report suspicious vehicle dealings and cooperate with police investigations as the CID intensifies its fight against cross-border vehicle crimes,” she said.
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