A major international police operation has uncovered a sprawling vehicle trafficking network across West Africa, leading to the discovery of around 150 stolen vehicles and the seizure of more than 75.
Among these, dozens were found to have been trafficked from Canada to Ghana and other countries in the sub-region.
The two-week operation, dubbed Operation Safe Wheels, was coordinated by INTERPOL and brought together security forces from Ghana, Nigeria, and ten other West African nations.
The crackdown, conducted between March 17 and March 30, also resulted in 18 new investigations and the identification of two organized crime syndicates.
Investigations revealed that the majority of the stolen vehicles had originated from Canada, with others traced back to France, Germany, and the Netherlands.
In Ghana, security personnel set up intensive vehicle inspection checkpoints daily, contributing to the over 12,600 vehicles screened throughout the operation. Popular vehicle brands flagged during inspections included Toyota, Peugeot, and Honda.
In Nigeria, officers from the Nigerian Customs Service discovered six high-end vehicles including Toyota and Lexus models hidden inside shipping containers at the port in Lagos.
INTERPOL’s global database confirmed all six vehicles had been stolen in Canada in 2024. Some of the vehicles bore clear signs of forced entry, and investigations remain ongoing in close cooperation with Canadian authorities.
INTERPOL’s Stolen Motor Vehicle database, which allows real-time checks on the status of vehicles across 196 member countries, played a central role in the operation’s success.
David Caunter, Director of Organized and Emerging Crime at INTERPOL, underscored the broader criminal impact of the illegal vehicle trade. He stated that vehicle thefts often serve as a gateway to more serious international crimes.
“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 said.
Operation Safe Wheels is part of Project Drive Out, a collaboration between INTERPOL and the Government of Canada aimed at dismantling the trade in stolen vehicles and illegal auto parts. Canada supported the project through both funding and technical expertise.
Nine INTERPOL experts were deployed to assist law enforcement agencies in Benin, Cabo Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo, providing hands-on support in identifying and tracing stolen vehicles.
The countries that participated in the operation include Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, and Togo.
