The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has identified Honda CR-Vs, Ford F-150 pickups, Range Rovers, and Dodge models as the most frequently trafficked stolen vehicles entering Ghana, based on recent investigations.
The announcement follows growing concerns from INTERPOL, which has described Ghana as an emerging hub for vehicles stolen—primarily from Canada and the United States.
Leo Anthony Siamah, Head of EOCO’s Legal Unit, urged prospective buyers to exercise increased caution, particularly when dealing with these high-risk models.
“There are certain types of vehicles that are suspicious. For instance, the Honda CR-V, Ford F-150, Range Rover, and the Dodge Ram. These four brands account for a significant number of stolen vehicles we’ve recovered recently,” he stated.
Siamah advised buyers to be especially wary of vehicles that appear unusually new and accident-free, particularly 2023 and 2024 models. He noted that Ghana’s second-hand car market has traditionally dealt in salvaged or accident-damaged imports—making the influx of pristine models potentially suspicious.
“If you’re looking at a recently released 2023 or 2024 model that’s accident-free, that should be a red flag. You need to do further checks—contact INTERPOL, for instance, to verify the vehicle’s status,” he said.
While the four flagged brands dominate the list, Siamah emphasized that EOCO’s scrutiny is not limited to them.
“Would we go after a Toyota Corolla? Yes. We’ve also intercepted Toyota Highlanders and Honda Accords. So, it’s not about targeting specific brands—we investigate wherever there’s a red flag,” he clarified.
EOCO has ramped up its operations in collaboration with international partners to disrupt the network of cross-border car theft and trafficking. Authorities are urging buyers to conduct thorough background checks through legitimate channels before finalizing any vehicle purchase.
