The case of the international trafficking of high-end vehicles stolen in Europe continues to shake West Africa. Ongoing investigations are revealing the existence of a particularly well-oiled transnational criminal network operating between the old continent, Ivory Coast, Benin, Togo, and Nigeria.

The latest development: several cars registered in Ivory Coast have been intercepted in Benin and Togo, confirming the scale of this international fraud.

The "modus operandi": Falsification and administrative complicity

Initial police investigations have allowed them to trace the vehicles' route:

1. Step 1: Luxury cars stolen in Europe are transported to Ivory Coast.
2. Step 2: They are registered there fraudulently.
3. Step 3: They are redistributed to other countries in the sub-region, notably via the Noé border.

To get these vehicles out of Ivory Coast, traffickers circumvent the legislation by falsifying the mandatory authorizations and powers of attorney of the owners.

Beyond car traffic: Risks to regional security

Faced with the sophistication of the organization, security services are raising the alarm. Investigators suspect that this same network could be used for even more serious criminal activities.

"The network can be used for larger-scale trafficking, including arms trafficking or even for the movement of cross-border criminals," warn sources close to the case.

“Amada,” the alleged mastermind, is behind bars.

At the center of the web is MY, alias "Amada." Arrested by Ivorian judicial authorities on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, he is presented as the mastermind of this network. He is accused of having orchestrated the smuggling and trafficking of these stolen vehicles to Lagos (Nigeria), Benin, and Togo for years.

Money laundering and real estate fraud: The investigation is expanding

The case is now taking a financial and real estate turn:

1. A microfinance institution under scrutiny: A financial institution is currently being targeted for potentially financing Amada's activities.
2. Land scams: In addition to car trafficking, the suspect is the subject of complaints for fraudulent land sales.
3. High-ranking victims: Among the plaintiffs, a major Lebanese economic operator claims to have been defrauded of 200 million FCFA for the purchase of a fictitious 35-hectare plot of land in Cocody-Angré-Palmeraie.

In addition, a suspicious luxury residence, resembling a large complex, has been identified by the police on the old Grand-Bassam road.

An international legal battle

Regional cooperation is accelerating. A rogatory commission set up by the Beninese justice system is expected imminently in Ivory Coast to question the main suspect.

The defense has chosen a line of absolute denial. In an official document submitted on Monday, April 13, 2026, MY's lawyer, Moïse Gourihi Titiro , firmly rejected all accusations. Denouncing the statements as "false and defamatory of his client," the defense contests the "international criminal mastermind" label attributed to Amada.

The legal saga is only just beginning.