The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service has intensified its crackdown on vehicle-related crime by launching a dedicated task force to trace and impound stolen vehicles smuggled into the country.
Announcing the initiative during a press briefing on Monday, August 4, the Director-General of the CID, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Lydia Yaako Donkor, said the move is part of broader efforts to disrupt 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 suspected to have been stolen from Canada, comprising four Toyota models, one Toyota RAV4, and one Range Rover. Investigations are ongoing to determine how these vehicles were illicitly imported into Ghana.
International Theft Networks Under Scrutiny
Preliminary intelligence suggests that criminal syndicates abroad are exploiting car rental services by using forged identities to hire vehicles. These vehicles are then illegally shipped to countries like Ghana while the rental contracts remain active.
DCOP Donkor explained that the branding and model selection by these syndicates appear calculated to mask the vehicles’ foreign origins, making them harder to detect upon arrival.
She urged the general public, particularly vehicle importers, car dealers, and buyers, to thoroughly verify the authenticity and documentation of all vehicles before purchasing or registering them.
“We are calling on everyone in the vehicle trade value chain to help prevent Ghana from becoming a hub for trafficked vehicles,” she emphasized.
Significant Recoveries So Far
Between January and July 2025, the CID has successfully recovered 43 high-value luxury cars believed to have been stolen from abroad and shipped to Ghana. These efforts form part of an enhanced collaboration between the Ghana Police Service and international law enforcement agencies, including Interpol and Canadian authorities.
The CID says it remains committed to dismantling cross-border criminal networks and protecting Ghana’s integrity in global vehicle trade.
