EOCO, Interpol, and FBI Recover Over 100 Stolen Cars Trafficked Into Ghana
- The EOCO, in partnership with the FBI, Interpol and the RCMP, has recovered over 100 stolen luxury vehicles shipped into Ghana from abroad
- The anti-graft body is investigating approximately 300 more suspected stolen cars and warned Ghanaians purchasing high-end vehicles
- The EOCO also said that sophisticated criminal networks were smuggling stolen cars into Ghana using forged documents and tricking buyers
The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), in collaboration with Interpol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), has recovered more than 100 stolen luxury vehicles that were shipped to Ghana under dubious circumstances from foreign countries.
According to the Head of Legal and Prosecutions of the EOCO, Leo Antony Siamah, the anti-graft agency is investigating approximately 300 cases of suspected stolen vehicles in collaboration with Interpol, the FBI and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Source: UGC
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Siamah warned the Ghanaian public to be extra vigilant when buying high-end vehicles to avoid becoming accomplices in criminal enterprises.
Although the EOCO has intensified efforts to recover stolen vehicles and tackle the issue, the pubic was advised to verify the identity of anyone or group claiming to represent the agency in vehicle recovery operations.
“Some unscrupulous persons are posing as officials from EOCO and seizing vehicles, and the public must verify the identity of such persons before cooperating with them,” he said.
EOCO explains criminals bringing cars into Ghana
Siamah explained that vehicles were stolen from the owners in the USA and Canada and then shipped to Ghana with forged documents.
He said the stolen cars get into the country through a sophisticated criminal network and immediately end up in the hands of innocent purchasers.
“Initially, the owners are not aware of the theft because they might be out of their country or state,” he explained.
Siamah said the EOCO was collaborating with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), and other security agencies to tighten the verification mechanism for stolen cars shipped into the country.
The Facebook post about the vehicle recovery operation is below:
Reactions to EOCO, FBI, Interpol recovering cars
Some Ghanaians on social media have expressed their views on the collaboration between EOCO, the FBI, and Interpol in clamping down on the activities of the criminal network that ships stolen cars to Ghana.
YEN.com.gh compiled a few of the reactions below:
@Richard Kweku Ampomah said:
"This is a good move. Once you’re done, do well to recover Africa's stolen treasures working with the same partners. Stealing has no expiry date."
@Emmanuel Torsu said:
"Didn’t you hear that Mr Boahen is going down? Cars pass through American ports to Ghana and become stolen pass through the almighty American port didn’t detect the stolen, but traces them in Ghana.juju be that."
@Bmm Swerdna commented:
"So are they going to send the cars back to Europe and the US? Well, we should let every institution and law in Ghana work and on any individual 100% without pardon or consideration."
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Source: UGC
EOCO investigates vehicle models commonly stolen
Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh reported earlier that the EOCO had identified Honda CR-Vs, Ford F-150s, Range Rovers, and Dodge models as commonly smuggled into Ghana, prompting closer scrutiny by the government.
Siamah urged buyers to investigate vehicles, especially new or spotless ones, for potential theft, emphasising the need for buyers to use their due diligence despite the use of Interpol's database for vehicle verification.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
