INTERPOL has uncovered a major vehicle trafficking network operating across West Africa, identifying nearly 150 stolen vehicles and seizing over 75 during a crackdown spanning 12 countries.
The two-week operation, dubbed “Safe Wheels,” was led by INTERPOL in collaboration with security agencies in Ghana, Nigeria, and ten other West African nations.
Conducted from March 17 to 30, 2025, the operation launched 18 investigations and exposed two organised crime syndicates involved in the cross-border smuggling of stolen cars.
Many of the stolen vehicles were trafficked from Canada, while others were traced to thefts reported in France, Germany, and the Netherlands.
In Nigeria, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) made a significant discovery at the Lagos port, where six stolen Toyota and Lexus vehicles were found hidden inside shipping containers.
INTERPOL’s global database confirmed all six vehicles had been stolen in Canada earlier this year. Some bore visible signs of forced entry, indicating possible links to professional auto theft rings.
In Ghana and other participating countries, security forces maintained an average of 46 checkpoints per day, inspecting over 12,600 vehicles during the operation. Officers flagged several popular brands, including Toyota, Peugeot, and Honda.
The Stolen Motor Vehicle (SMV) database, managed by INTERPOL, played a crucial role in the detection process, enabling real-time vehicle checks by officers across the organization’s 196 member countries.
David Caunter, INTERPOL’s Director of Organised and Emerging Crime, highlighted the broader threat posed by vehicle theft.
“Each year, hundreds of thousands of vehicles are stolen around the world, yet the initial theft is often only the beginning of a vehicle’s journey into the global criminal underworld.”
“Stolen vehicles are trafficked across the globe, traded for drugs and other illicit commodities, enriching organized crime groups and even terrorists,” he stated.
The operation is part of Project Drive Out, a joint initiative between INTERPOL and the Government of Canada aimed at disrupting international vehicle smuggling and the illegal trade in car parts. The project receives Canadian funding and technical assistance.
To support the operation, INTERPOL deployed nine experts from its SMV Task Force to collaborate with security forces in Benin, Cabo Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo.
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
