A major INTERPOL-led operation across West Africa has uncovered approximately 150 stolen vehicles and resulted in the seizure of over 75, marking a significant step forward in international efforts to combat organized vehicle crime.
Codenamed Operation Safe Wheels, the initiative brought together national law enforcement agencies from 12 West African countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and others, in a coordinated two-week mission aimed at dismantling transnational vehicle trafficking networks.
Between March 17 and 30, participating states conducted around 46 daily checkpoints and inspected a total of 12,600 vehicles, cross-referencing their records with INTERPOL’s Stolen Motor Vehicle (SMV) database—an advanced tool that allows police in its 196 member countries to instantly verify whether a vehicle is reported stolen.
The sweep led not only to vehicle recoveries but also to the launch of 18 new investigations and the identification of two organized crime groups involved in the illegal trade of cars across borders. Vehicles detected included those stolen from Canada, France, Germany, and the Netherlands.
Highlighting the broader implications, David Caunter, INTERPOL’s Director of Organized and Emerging Crime, stated:
“Each year, hundreds of thousands of vehicles are stolen around the world, yet the initial theft is often only the beginning of a vehicle’s journey into the global criminal underworld.
Stolen vehicles are trafficked across the globe, traded for drugs and other illicit commodities, enriching organized crime groups and even terrorists.
INTERPOL’s SMV database is the strongest tool we have to track stolen vehicles and identify the criminals involved in this global trade.”
The operation, executed under INTERPOL’s Project Drive Out—a partnership with the Government of Canada—saw officers from participating nations work side by side with international experts, including members of INTERPOL’s SMV Task Force and a specialist from Canada.
Both land and maritime smuggling routes were intercepted. In Lagos, Nigerian customs officials found six stolen Canadian vehicles hidden in freight containers, confirming the use of West African ports in vehicle trafficking. Ongoing joint investigations between Nigeria and Canada’s INTERPOL bureau are now in motion.
Toyota was the most frequently flagged vehicle brand, followed by Peugeot and Honda.
In 2024 alone, INTERPOL’s global SMV database has helped identify about 270,000 stolen vehicles, reinforcing its role as a cornerstone in the global fight against auto theft and transnational organized crime.
Countries that took part in Operation Safe Wheels were: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, and Togo.
