A major international police operation by International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) has dismantled a widespread vehicle trafficking network across West Africa, resulting in the detection of approximately 150 stolen vehicles and the seizure of more than 75 across 12 countries.
The two-week operation, code-named “Safe Wheels,” was coordinated by INTERPOL and involved law enforcement agencies from Ghana, Nigeria, and ten other West African nations. The crackdown uncovered two organized crime syndicates and triggered 18 new investigations.
Most of the stolen vehicles had been trafficked from Canada, while others originated from France, Germany, and the Netherlands.
In Nigeria, officers from the Nigerian Customs Service uncovered six stolen vehicles, Toyota and Lexus models hidden in shipping containers at the port of Lagos. INTERPOL’s global database confirmed all six had been reported stolen in Canada in 2024, with some showing evidence of forced entry.
Ongoing investigations are being carried out in close coordination between Nigerian authorities and INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau in Canada.
Across Ghana and other participating countries, law enforcement teams conducted thorough vehicle checks, averaging 46 checkpoints daily between March 17 and 30, and inspecting more than 12,600 vehicles. Toyota, Peugeot, and Honda were among the most commonly flagged brands.
INTERPOL’s Stolen Motor Vehicle (SMV) database was instrumental in identifying the stolen cars. This tool allows law enforcement in all 196 INTERPOL member countries, including Ghana and Nigeria, to instantly verify whether a vehicle has been reported stolen.
The INTERPOL’s Director of Organized and Emerging Crime, David Caunter emphasized the global nature of vehicle theft and its links to organized crime.
Operation Safe Wheels is part of Project Drive Out, a joint initiative between INTERPOL and the Government of Canada aimed at combating the smuggling of stolen vehicles and illegal auto parts.
