CID launches task force to tackle smuggling of stolen vehicles into Ghana
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service has ramped up efforts to combat vehicle-related crime with the establishment of a special task force aimed at tracking and impounding stolen vehicles entering the country.
At a press briefing on Monday, August 4, Deputy Commissioner of Police (COP) Lydia Yaako Donkor announced the formation of the task force as part of a broader initiative to dismantle transnational vehicle theft syndicates.
“To further boost the fight against vehicle crime, a special task force has been set up by the CID administration to conduct intelligence-based operations and impound suspected stolen vehicles brought into the country,” she stated.
So far, the task force has seized six vehicles, including four Toyota models, a Toyota RAV4, and a Range Rover, believed to have been stolen from Canada. Investigations are underway to uncover the full scope of the smuggling operation.
Preliminary intelligence suggests that criminal networks are exploiting car rental systems by using fake identities to rent vehicles, which are then secretly shipped to Ghana while the rental agreements remain valid. DCOP Donkor highlighted that the sophistication of these syndicates, evident in the branding and model choices of the vehicles, points to a deliberate attempt to conceal their origins.
The CID is urging the public, especially vehicle dealers, importers, and buyers, to verify the authenticity of all vehicles before purchasing or registering them.
Additionally, authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to collaborating with international law enforcement to break up these criminal networks and prevent Ghana from becoming a hub for trafficked vehicles.
Since January 2025, the CID has recovered 43 high-value luxury cars stolen abroad and smuggled into the country.
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