By: Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
A stolen 2015 Caterpillar D8T bulldozer valued at $237,000 (approx. GH¢3.5 million) has been intercepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Port of Baltimore while being shipped to Ghana.
The bulldozer was discovered during a routine cargo inspection on September 3, 2025. Officers noted that the vehicle identification number (VIN) matched an active theft report from Carroll County, Maryland. The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office was immediately contacted and confirmed that the machine was still listed as stolen.
CBP seized the bulldozer before it could leave the U.S. The Port of Baltimore has become a major transit hub for stolen vehicles destined for West Africa, especially Ghana and Nigeria. Shipping lines provide direct and regular routes to ports in Tema, Takoradi, and Lagos, making the corridor attractive to international vehicle theft syndicates.
According to CBP, it is not uncommon for stolen vehicles—including luxury cars, SUVs, and heavy machinery—to be disguised in containers marked as legitimate exports. In many cases, vehicles are purchased under false identities or stolen through insurance fraud before being shipped abroad.
Nationally, CBP reported 1,445 stolen vehicle exports intercepted in 2024, up 9% from 1,316 the year before. The estimated value of the seizures runs into hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
At the Port of Baltimore, however, the trend has been the opposite: CBP agents recovered 250 stolen vehicles in 2024, down 27% from 2023. Collectively, those vehicles were valued at $9.6 million.
Baltimore’s Field Office jurisdiction covers 11 seaports from Trenton, New Jersey, down to the Virginia–North Carolina line, making it one of the busiest maritime enforcement regions in the United States.
Authorities warn that the international shipping of stolen vehicles is tied to organized crime networks that operate across multiple countries. Syndicates in the U.S. often collaborate with partners in West Africa to quickly resell stolen machinery and cars on the black market.
The bulldozer case highlights how industrial and construction equipment is now increasingly targeted, not just luxury cars. Stolen heavy equipment can be resold for millions of dollars, feeding illegal mining, construction, and industrial activities in receiving countries.
The interception raises questions about Ghana’s role in global stolen vehicle trafficking. In recent years, Ghanaian ports have recorded a surge in the importation of used vehicles, with Tema alone handling over 300,000 vehicles annually, according to Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).
Security experts warn that lax inspection systems and porous documentation processes create opportunities for criminals to use Ghana as a destination or transit hub. Ghana’s government has been under pressure to strengthen port surveillance, improve collaboration with INTERPOL, and tighten customs clearance procedures to avoid becoming a dumping ground for stolen assets.
Official Comment
In a statement, CBP officials in Baltimore said:
“This case is yet another example of how our officers remain vigilant against criminal organizations attempting to exploit U.S. ports. The stolen bulldozer will be returned to its rightful owner, and investigations into the export scheme are ongoing.”
The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office also confirmed it is pursuing leads on the theft, though no arrests have been made.
Source: CBS News
