EOCO Stolen Vehicle Alert: Honda CR-V, Ford F-150, Range Rover, and Dodge Ram Top the List

Accra ,Ghana - The Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) has launched a crackdown on stolen vehicles, with Honda CR-Vs, Ford F-150 pickups, Range Rovers, and Dodge models topping the list of suspicious vehicles. According to EOCO, these four brands account for the majority of stolen vehicle cases intercepted in recent months.

“There are certain types of vehicles that are suspicious. For instance, the Honda CR-V series, the Ford F-150, the Range Rover, and I think the Dodge Ram. These are four brands that are very high in terms of the number of stolen vehicles that we recover. Most of them happen to be these vehicles. So, obviously, if you are going to purchase one of those vehicles, that should be a red flag for you,” Leo Anthony Siamah, Head of EOCO's Legal Unit empahasized in a converstaion with Joy News monitored by Lead News Online.

EOCO's operation is part of a broader effort to combat organized crime and vehicle theft in Ghana. The agency has been working closely with international partners, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), to track down stolen vehicles and bring perpetrators to justice.

In a recent operation, EOCO retrieved 37 suspected stolen luxury vehicles from various garages in Accra, with 10 persons arrested in connection with the crime. The vehicles seized include high-end models such as BMW X7, Jeep Wrangler, Mercedes Benz S-Class, and Audi SS.

The Problem of Stolen Vehicles in Ghana

Ghana has become a lucrative hub for stolen vehicles, particularly those stolen from Canada and the United States. According to reports, organized crime syndicates are behind the theft and export of stolen vehicles to Ghana, where they are sold to unsuspecting buyers.

In 2022, the Canadian government reported an unprecedented billion-dollar worth of vehicle thefts, with nearly all stolen cars being exported by organized crime gangs. EOCO has urged prospective car buyers to conduct due diligence on vehicles before purchase, warning that the agency will confiscate stolen vehicles in accordance with the law if owners fail to respond to directives.

Leo Anthony Siamah,advises prospective car buyers to be cautious when purchasing vehicles, especially high-end models that appear too new and accident-free. He notes that while Honda CR-Vs, Range Rovers, and other top brands are under scrutiny, EOCO's operations extend to other brands as well.

“If you look at one of those vehicles that was recently released, maybe a 2023 model, 2024 model, which is accident-free, it should be a red flag for you. That should point you to doing extra for instance, go to Interpol to find out whether or not that car’s status is stolen,” he advised.

Source - Lead News Online