An INTERPOL-led operation has uncovered approximately 150 stolen vehicles trafficked from Canada, France, Germany, and the Netherlands to Nigeria, Ghana, and 10 other West African countries in two weeks.
The operation, named ‘Safe Wheels,’ was coordinated by INTERPOL and supported by national law enforcement agencies across the 12 countries in West Africa.
The operation led to the detection of 150 stolen vehicles and the seizure of more than 75 vehicles.
“An international police operation targeting vehicle crime in West Africa has led to the detection of approximately 150 stolen vehicles and the seizure of more than 75 vehicles.
Coordinated by INTERPOL and carried out by national law enforcement agencies in 12 West African countries, the operation,” they stated.
According to INTERPOL, law enforcements from the 12 countries namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, and Togo conducted daily checkpoints throughout the operation, which took place in March 2025.
“During the two-week operation, law enforcement…established an average of 46 checkpoints each day to inspect a total of 12,600 vehicles,” they stated.
This represents about 1.19% of the 12,600 vehicles inspected in that period.
Mostly Canadian vehicles
According to the organization, most of the stolen vehicles detected were trafficked from Canada. Additionally, a significant number had been reported stolen in France, Germany, and the Netherlands.
“Most of the stolen vehicles detected through INTERPOL’s Stolen Motor Vehicle (SMV) database were trafficked from Canada, while many had also been reported stolen in France, Germany and the Netherlands,” they stated.
The operation launched 18 new investigations and exposed the involvement of two organized crime groups.
“The operation also initiated 18 new investigations and uncovered the involvement of two organized crime groups,” they noted.
270,000 vehicles identified in 2024
INTERPOL’s Stolen Motor Vehicle (SMV) database allowed officers to verify the status of vehicles instantly, with around 270,000 vehicles identified globally as stolen in 2024 alone.
“In 2024, around 270,000 vehicles were identified as stolen globally through the SMV database,” they stated, highlighting the global scale of this issue.
The operation has not only helped recover stolen vehicles but also led to the initiation of 18 new investigations.
According to the international police operation, the Stolen Motor Vehicle database allows police in the Organization’s 196 member countries to run a check against a suspicious vehicle and find out instantly whether it has been reported as stolen.
