By Ruth Serwaa Asare
The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has retrieved 100 stolen luxury vehicles smuggled into Ghana through international criminal networks.
Head of Legal and Prosecutions at EOCO, Mr. Leo Antony Siamah, confirmed the recovery in an interview with Graphic Online TV and revealed that over 300 more suspected stolen vehicles are currently under investigation in collaboration with Interpol, the FBI, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
“We have successfully recovered 100 luxury vehicles, including high-end brands such as Mercedes Benz, BMW, Bentley, Rolls-Royce and Lexus. But this is just the beginning; over 300 others are still under investigation,” Mr. Siamah disclosed.
He cautioned the public to exercise extreme care when purchasing vehicles, warning that innocent buyers risk being entangled in serious criminal investigations. “The law places a duty on every buyer to do due diligence. If you fail to verify the authenticity of the vehicle and its documents, you may lose everything without any legal remedy,” he stressed.
According to EOCO, most of the vehicles were stolen from unsuspecting owners in the United States and Canada, then shipped to Ghana with forged documents. “By the time these cars are flagged as stolen abroad, they are already in the hands of innocent Ghanaians. This makes it a very delicate and unfortunate situation,” Mr. Siamah explained.
Mr. Siamah explained that buyers must be alert to certain red flags when purchasing a car. He noted that unusually low prices should immediately raise suspicion, as well as incomplete or questionable documentation that does not align with the vehicle’s history. Altered or defaced Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) are another warning sign, together with tampered rearview mirrors, where criminals often conceal GPS trackers. He advised buyers to carefully cross-check VINs in different parts of the car, verify vehicle histories through trusted platforms like Carfax and AutoCheck, and, where possible, consult EOCO or Interpol before making a payment.
He also revealed that some criminals are impersonating EOCO officers to unlawfully seize vehicles. “We are aware of imposters parading as EOCO officials. The public must insist on proper identification before dealing with anyone claiming to be from EOCO,” he warned.
Mr. Siamah emphasised that EOCO’s operations are not about victimisation but about fulfilling its legal mandate to protect Ghana’s reputation. “This situation paints Ghana as a hub for stolen vehicles, which is damaging to our image. EOCO is working with the Ghana Revenue Authority, port authorities and security agencies to prevent this but we need the public’s cooperation,” he said.
EOCO continues to engage car dealers, garage operators, and stakeholders to educate them on the dangers of dealing in stolen vehicles, while intensifying efforts in tracing proceeds of crime, lifestyle audits, and fighting money laundering.
