The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has identified Honda CR-Vs, Ford F-150 pickups, Range Rovers, and Dodge models as the most common vehicles linked to stolen car trafficking into Ghana.
Interpol has consistently described Ghana as a growing hub for stolen vehicles, particularly from Canada and the United States. EOCO’s recent operations appear to confirm this trend, with these four brands accounting for the bulk of intercepted cases.
Speaking on Joy News TV, Head of EOCO’s Legal Unit, Leo Anthony Siamah, cautioned prospective car buyers to exercise extreme vigilance when purchasing these vehicles.
“There are certain types of vehicles that are suspicious. For instance, the Honda CR-V series, the Ford F-150, the Range Rover, and the Dodge Ram. These are four brands that are very high in terms of the number of stolen vehicles we recover. Most of them happen to be these vehicles. So, obviously, if you are going to purchase one of those vehicles, that should be a red flag for you,” he warned.
Mr Siamah advised that buyers should be particularly cautious of 2023 and 2024 models that appear “too new and accident-free” on the Ghanaian market. Ghana’s import market is historically dominated by salvaged or accident-damaged vehicles, making the influx of spotless, high-end cars unusual and suspicious.
“If you look at one of those vehicles that was recently released, maybe a 2023 model or 2024 model, which is accident-free, it should be a red flag for you. That should point you to doing extra — for instance, go to Interpol to find out whether or not that car’s status is stolen,” he explained.
While Honda, Ford, Range Rover, and Dodge dominate EOCO’s list, the agency stressed that its investigations are not limited to those brands.
“Would you go after a Toyota Corolla, for instance? Yes. We’ve gone after a couple of Toyota Highlanders and Honda Accords. So, it’s not like we have a preference,” Mr Siamah clarified.
EOCO urged the public to use Interpol’s database and other verification systems before making purchases. The agency stressed that due diligence remains the best safeguard against falling victim to stolen car rackets.
The warning comes as Ghana intensifies efforts to shake off its reputation as a haven for stolen vehicles, with law enforcement promising tougher cross-border collaborations and more frequent swoops on suspicious car shipments.
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