Cross-Border Sting: Police Recover Stolen Nigerian Vehicles in Ghana, Niger; Arrests Made

Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has scored significant victories in its relentless fight against trans-border crime, successfully recovering multiple vehicles stolen from Nigeria and trafficked to neighboring Ghana and Niger Republic.

These operations, spearheaded by the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) in Abuja, highlight an increasing level of international cooperation in combating organized crime.

In a recent breakthrough, operatives of INTERPOL NCB Abuja, working in close collaboration with their counterparts in Accra, Ghana, successfully recovered a 2020 Toyota Prado belonging to a Nigerian Federal Government Agency.

The luxury SUV, which was stolen during a robbery in Abuja earlier this year, was tracked to Accra. Three suspects have been apprehended in Ghana in connection with the theft and have already been charged to court in Accra.

The recovered vehicle has since been returned to Nigeria and formally handed over to the rightful agency.

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Similarly, a 2018 Toyota Hilux, also belonging to a Federal Government agency, was recovered in Agadez, Niger Republic.

This vehicle was stolen from a staff member in Utako District, FCT Abuja, on October 18, 2024. Through extensive investigation and the crucial support of INTERPOL NCB Niamey, the vehicle was tracked down and officially handed over to a senior representative of the agency at the Nigeria-Niger border crossing point of Ilela/Konni.

Further demonstrating their commitment to curbing vehicle theft, the Nigeria Police Force is in the final stages of recovering two more high-value vehicles – a Toyota Land Cruiser SUV and a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado SUV.

These vehicles were stolen from their owners in Abuja as recently as May 2025 and subsequently sold in Niamey, Niger Republic, underscoring the rapid cross-border movement of stolen assets.

Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, lauded the exceptional professionalism of the operatives involved in these successful recoveries. He reiterated the NPF’s unwavering commitment under his leadership to enhanced global policing initiatives. The IGP specifically expressed gratitude to INTERPOL NCB Accra, INTERPOL NCB Niamey, and the Nigerian High Commission in Accra for their invaluable support and cooperation, which proved instrumental in the recovery and repatriation of these stolen vehicles.

The Force strongly urges all Nigerian citizens to register their vehicles on the Police Electronic Platforms. This crucial step, along with adopting necessary precautions, significantly increases the chances of swift recovery in the unfortunate event of vehicle theft.

These recent successes serve as a stern warning to criminal syndicates engaged in cross-border vehicle theft that law enforcement agencies are intensifying efforts to track and recover stolen assets, regardless of their destination.