An INTERPOL-led operation has uncovered roughly 150 stolen autos trafficked from Canada, France, Germany, and the Netherlands to Nigeria, Ghana, and 10 different West African nations in two weeks.
The operation, named ‘Protected Wheels,’ was coordinated by INTERPOL and supported by nationwide legislation enforcement businesses throughout the 12 nations in West Africa.
The operation led to the detection of 150 stolen autos and the seizure of greater than 75 autos.
“A world police operation focusing on car crime in West Africa has led to the detection of roughly 150 stolen autos and the seizure of greater than 75 autos.
Coordinated by INTERPOL and carried out by nationwide legislation enforcement businesses in 12 West African nations, the operation,” they said.
In accordance with INTERPOL, legislation enforcements from the 12 nations specifically Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, and Togo performed day by day checkpoints all through the operation, which occurred in March 2025.
“In the course of the two-week operation, legislation enforcement…established a mean of 46 checkpoints every day to examine a complete of 12,600 autos,” they said.
This represents about 1.19% of the 12,600 autos inspected in that interval.
Principally Canadian autos
In accordance with the group, a lot of the stolen autos detected have been trafficked from Canada. Moreover, a big quantity had been reported stolen in France, Germany, and the Netherlands.
“Many of the stolen autos detected by means of INTERPOL’s Stolen Motor Car (SMV) database have been trafficked from Canada, whereas many had additionally been reported stolen in France, Germany and the Netherlands,” they said.
The operation launched 18 new investigations and uncovered the involvement of two organized crime teams.
“The operation additionally initiated 18 new investigations and uncovered the involvement of two organized crime teams,” they famous.
270,000 autos recognized in 2024
INTERPOL’s Stolen Motor Car (SMV) database allowed officers to confirm the standing of autos immediately, with round 270,000 autos recognized globally as stolen in 2024 alone.
“In 2024, round 270,000 autos have been recognized as stolen globally by means of the SMV database,” they said, highlighting the worldwide scale of this concern.
The operation has not solely helped get better stolen autos but additionally led to the initiation of 18 new investigations.
In accordance with the worldwide police operation, the Stolen Motor Car database permits police within the Group’s 196 member nations to run a examine towards a suspicious car and discover out immediately whether or not it has been reported as stolen.
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