A global police effort led by INTERPOL has revealed a major stolen vehicle operation across West Africa, with numerous stolen cars, including several traced back to Canada, found in Nigeria.
The operation, named “Safe Wheels,” involved law enforcement agencies across 12 West African countries and resulted in the identification of approximately 150 stolen vehicles. Among these, more than 75 were seized, including several located in Lagos, Nigeria.
According to an official INTERPOL statement, the discovery was made possible through its Stolen Motor Vehicle (SMV) database, which plays a critical role in the global fight against vehicle theft. Vehicles were traced primarily from Canada, France, Germany, and the Netherlands.
In 2024 alone, the database flagged over 270,000 stolen vehicles worldwide, offering law enforcement agencies across INTERPOL’s 196 member nations the ability to verify suspicious vehicles.
Over a two-week period, police forces across West Africa inspected 12,600 vehicles. Popular vehicle brands found stolen included Toyota, Peugeot, and Honda. Traffickers moved these vehicles by both land and sea routes, with Nigeria being a key hub for shipping.
Authorities from countries including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, and Togo took part in the large-scale inspection operation.
In Lagos, officers from the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) found six smuggled vehicles inside freight containers, four of which bore visible signs of forced entry. The vehicles, including Toyota and Lexus models, were verified by the SMV database as having been stolen in Canada earlier in 2024.
Investigations into the shipment are ongoing and involve collaboration between the NCS and Canada’s INTERPOL National Central Bureau.
David Caunter, INTERPOL’s Director of Organized and Emerging Crime, emphasized the importance of the SMV platform. He described it as a vital tool for tracking stolen vehicles and exposing the organized networks behind their smuggling.
- Related News:
INTERPOL Official Press Release
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