Interpol finds 150 stolen cars from Canada in Ghana, and other W/A countries

An Interpol-led police operation in West Africa has uncovered approximately 150 stolen vehicles, the majority of which originated from Canada, during a two-week crackdown on cross-border vehicle trafficking and organized crime.

Operation “Safe Wheels,” conducted from March 17 to 30, 2025, involved law enforcement agencies across 12 West African countries, including Ghana and Nigeria. Over 12,600 vehicles were inspected, leading to the seizure of more than 75 vehicles and the initiation of 18 new investigations into vehicle crime and its links to organized criminal networks.

Interpol reported that most of the recovered stolen vehicles were traced back to Canada, with others originating from France, Germany, and the Netherlands. The most commonly recovered car brands were Toyota, Peugeot, and Honda.

“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,” stated David Caunter, Interpol’s Director of Organized and Emerging Crime. “Stolen vehicles are trafficked across the globe, traded for drugs and other illicit commodities, enriching organized crime groups and even terrorists. Interpol’s SMV (Stolen Motor Vehicle) database is the strongest tool we have to track stolen vehicles and identify the criminals involved in this global trade,” he added.

Interpol’s Stolen Motor Vehicle (SMV) database, accessible to its 196 member states, enabled officers in the region to verify the status of suspicious vehicles. In 2024 alone, the database aided in the identification of approximately 270,000 stolen vehicles worldwide.

In Nigeria, the operation revealed six high-end vehicles, showing signs of forced entry, concealed within freight containers arriving in Lagos from Canada. The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) confirmed that all six vehicles, including Toyota and Lexus models, were reported stolen in Canada in 2024. Investigations are currently underway in collaboration with Canada’s Interpol National Central Bureau.

To support Safe Wheels, Interpol deployed nine officers and experts from its SMV Task Force, including a specialist from Canada, to assist local law enforcement in Benin, Cabo Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo. The operation was conducted under Project Drive Out, a new partnership between Interpol and the Government of Canada, focused on combating vehicle theft and the illegal trade in auto parts. Funding for the project was provided by Canada.

The participating Interpol member countries included Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, and Togo. Law enforcement teams in these countries established an average of 46 checkpoints daily to inspect vehicles and track trafficked units.

Officials have highlighted that the success of Safe Wheels underscores the growing threat of transnational vehicle crime in West Africa, often interconnected with broader networks of smuggling and illicit trade.

The operation represents a significant advancement in regional efforts to combat organized vehicle theft and strengthen international policing cooperation.

The post Interpol finds 150 stolen cars from Canada in Ghana, and other W/A countries first appeared on 3News.

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