The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service has stepped up its fight against vehicle-related crime with the creation of a special task force dedicated to tracking and impounding stolen vehicles brought into the country.

Announcing the initiative at a press briefing on Monday, August 4, the Director-General of the CID, Deputy Commissioner of Police (COP) Lydia Yaako Donkor, said the measure forms part of renewed efforts to disrupt transnational vehicle theft syndicates operating across borders.

“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 believed to have been stolen from Canada. These include four Toyota models, one Toyota RAV4, and one Range Rover.

Investigations are under way to determine the exact circumstances under which the vehicles were illicitly brought into Ghana.

Preliminary intelligence indicates that criminal networks abroad have been exploiting car rental systems by using forged identities to hire vehicles. While the rental agreements remain active, the vehicles are then secretly shipped out of the source countries to destinations such as Ghana.

DCOP Donkor noted that the sophistication of these syndicates, particularly their branding and model choices, suggests a deliberate effort to disguise the vehicles’ origins.

The CID is urging the public, especially vehicle dealers, importers, and buyers, to verify the legitimacy of all vehicles before purchase or registration.

Authorities have also reaffirmed their commitment to working closely with international law enforcement agencies to dismantle these networks and prevent Ghana from becoming a hub for trafficked vehicles.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service, through its Criminal Investigation Department (CID), has recovered 43 high-value luxury cars between January and July 2025, stolen from abroad and shipped to Ghana.

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