The Ghana Police Service has unveiled a complex criminal operation responsible for smuggling stolen vehicles into the country.
At a press conference held on Monday, August 4, the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, shed light on these illicit activities involving fake identities and deceptive shipping methods.
The CID has established a dedicated task force to address vehicle-related crimes, which has gathered crucial intelligence on the operations of international criminal syndicates engaged in this nefarious trade. “These criminals rent vehicles using fake identities. While the rental agreement is still valid, they secretly arrange for the vehicles to be shipped out. Once they receive confirmation that the vehicle has been successfully exported, they stop paying the rental fees and cut off communication with the rental company,” COP Donkor revealed.
The investigation has identified that the vehicles are frequently rented from car rental companies abroad, primarily in Canada, and are smuggled into Ghana under false pretenses. The task force has uncovered 43 luxury vehicles suspected to have been stolen from various countries, including the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Canada, the USA, Germany, Italy, and France. Notable examples among these seized vehicles are high-end brands like Rolls-Royce, Audi Q8, Porsche, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz.
Out of the total 43 vehicles, 18 have been ordered by the courts to be returned to their countries of origin. So far, eight vehicles have been successfully repatriated, while 10 others are currently undergoing repatriation processes. The fate of the remaining 25 vehicles is still being determined through ongoing legal proceedings.
In addition to these findings, the special task force has also seized six additional vehicles believed to have been stolen, including four Toyota Tundras, one Toyota RAV4, and one Range Rover, all traced back to thefts in Canada.
As investigations progress to identify and apprehend the masterminds behind this illegal importation network, COP Donkor stressed the importance of vigilance among key stakeholders at ports across the country. She urged clearing agents, port officials, and the general public to remain alert and report any suspicious vehicle transactions.
“We urge the public to report suspicious vehicle dealings and cooperate with police investigations as the CID intensifies its fight against cross-border vehicle crimes,” she concluded, reinforcing the necessity for community involvement in curbing these criminal activities.
With this ongoing investigation, the Ghana Police Service aims to dismantle this transnational smuggling network and reclaim stolen vehicles, signaling a significant step forward in the fight against vehicle-related crime in the country.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen
