The National Geographic Channel recently aired a documentary exposing the international car theft ring that sees cars stolen from people in the US and shipped outside, specifically to Ghana.
The investigation, led by journalist Mariana van Zeller, revealed how the syndicate collaborates with car thieves in the US and how they alter the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of stolen vehicles to avoid detection by security operatives.
The documentary also highlighted the people affiliated with the syndicate who have amassed wealth as a result of engaging in the business.
Van Zeller traveled to Ghana to meet with local players, including a hacker/black market trader and another person who handles the business aspect of the enterprise, to gain insights into the local trading of stolen cars and how they are able to get the cars into the Ghanaian system without raising any red flags.
The investigation uncovered the Ghanaian players as those sitting on top of the international car theft ring, making the most money from a criminal enterprise that sees cars belonging to people in America, stolen and shipped outside.
The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in Ghana recently secured a court order to seize vehicles suspected to have been stolen and smuggled into Ghana, including 95 more vehicles in addition to 41 others seized earlier in collaboration with the US Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in December 2022.
