The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has retrieved more than 100 stolen luxury vehicles shipped into Ghana through fraudulent means, with another 300 cases currently under investigation.
The anti-graft body is collaborating with Interpol, the FBI, and Canada’s Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to crack down on the international syndicates involved in the trade.
Speaking in an interview, EOCO’s Head of Legal and Prosecutions, Leo Antony Siamah, cautioned the public to exercise extreme care when purchasing vehicles, especially high-end brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Bentley, Lexus, Rolls-Royce, BMW X7 and X8 series, Cadillac Escalade, Dodge Ram, and Honda CR-V.He said unsuspecting buyers risk losing their money and the vehicles if they fail to do proper checks.
Mr. Siamah revealed that criminals often steal cars in the United States and Canada, forge documentation, and ship them into Ghana.
“By the time the vehicles are declared stolen abroad, they are already in the hands of innocent purchasers here,” he explained. He noted that while EOCO is working with the Ghana Revenue Authority, port authorities, and security agencies to strengthen checks, the ultimate responsibility rests on buyers to verify ownership before purchase.
He urged the public to be alert to red flags such as unusually low prices, incomplete or suspicious documentation, tampered vehicle identification numbers (VIN), or even missing rear-view mirrors where GPS trackers are hidden. He advised potential buyers to verify information on platforms like Carfax and AutoCheck, and where possible, contact Interpol or EOCO directly for clearance before finalising a deal.
While reiterating EOCO’s resolve to dismantle the syndicates, Mr. Siamah warned against fraudsters impersonating EOCO officials to unlawfully seize cars.
“Some unscrupulous persons are posing as officials from EOCO. The public must verify the identity of such persons before cooperating,” he stressed.
He called for stronger collaboration with the public, car dealers, and garage operators, adding that stolen vehicles tarnish Ghana’s international image and fuel perceptions of the country as a safe haven for illicit trade.
