The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has recovered 100 stolen luxury vehicles that were shipped into Ghana through dubious means.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Head of Legal and Prosecutions at EOCO, Leo Antony Siamah, cautioned the public to be extra vigilant when purchasing vehicles, particularly high-end ones, in order not to become accomplices in criminal activities.
He also urged the public to scrutinise the identity of anyone claiming to be from EOCO. “Some unscrupulous individuals are posing as officials from EOCO and seizing vehicles. The public must verify the identity of such persons before cooperating with them,” he warned.
Mr. Siamah explained that many of the vehicles are stolen from unsuspecting owners in the United States and Canada, often while they are away from home. They are then shipped to Ghana with forged documents through a criminal network.
“By the time the cars are declared stolen abroad, they are already in the hands of innocent purchasers in Ghana,” he said
Although EOCO is working with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), port authorities and other security agencies to tighten verification processes, he stressed that buyers also bore responsibility. “The law places a duty on individuals seeking to buy anything to conduct due diligence. Failure to do so means there is no remedy in the event of a legal action,” he added.
Some of the luxury brands frequently targeted in these schemes include Mercedes-Benz, Bentley, Lexus, Rolls-Royce, BMW X7 and X8 series, Ford F150, Cadillac Escalade, Dodge Ram and Honda CR-V.
Source: myghanadaily
