INTERPOL targets stolen vehicle trafficking in West African police operation
Interpol
LYON, France: 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 – codenamed ‘Safe Wheels’ – also initiated 18 new investigations and uncovered the involvement of two organized crime groups.
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.
INTERPOL’s SMV 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.
In 2024, around 270,000 vehicles were identified as stolen globally through the SMV database.
Italy: EPPO seizes assets in investigation into EU funding fraud involving ceramic production
European Public Prosecutor's Office
(Luxembourg, 30 April 2025) – At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Palermo (Italy), a freezing order of €800 000 was issued against five individuals and one company suspected of EU funding fraud involving ceramic production. The Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) of Sant’Agata di Militello subsequently seized real estate, bank accounts and cash found in the possession of the suspects.
EFCC Charges Banks on Improved KYC, Enhanced Collaboration
EFCC
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC , has called on financial institutions across the country to strengthen their collaboration with the Commission towards ridding the nation of economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption.
This charge was given on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State by the Acting Zonal Director of EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE1 Adebayo Adeniyi while addressing bank compliance officers. He admonished them to always carry out their duties of conducting Customer Due Diligence and Know your Customers in order to strengthen the fight against corruption.