The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has revealed that as many as 10,000 stolen vehicles could be entering Ghana each year.
Speaking on The Key Points on TV3 on August 23, the Head of Legal and Prosecution at EOCO, Leo Anthony Siamah, addressed public concerns about the agency’s operations in tackling vehicle theft. He dismissed suggestions of “rambo-style” methods, stressing that EOCO relies on intelligence, data, and detailed investigations rather than random stops.
According to him, the agency uses a comprehensive database to trace stolen vehicles to specific garages and dealerships during its asset recovery operations. This targeted approach, he said, has yielded significant results.
“Out of the 300 vehicles we were investigating, we were able to recover about 66. But what is worrying is that more than 70 percent of the vehicles we intercepted outside the original list also turned out to be stolen. This shows the problem is much bigger, suggesting that up to 10,000 stolen vehicles may be entering Ghana each year,” Siamah noted.
He further cautioned prospective buyers to exercise due diligence when purchasing vehicles, emphasizing that paying customs duties does not guarantee legitimacy. He warned that buyers who fail to verify the authenticity of vehicles risk losing both the car and their money, with no legal recourse against the seller.
Siamah strongly advised the public to always cross-check vehicle details with EOCO or INTERPOL before finalizing any purchase.
