The US Customs and Border Protection agency has intercepted a shipment of stolen vehicles destined for Ghana, and estimated to cost around $150,000 at the port of Virginia.
This revelation was made during an inspection of shipping containers at the port by officials from 13 News. According to the agents, the cars listed on the documents did not match the ones they discovered in the shipping container.
“Agents swung open the doors of one shipping container that had been flagged. The manifest indicated it contained several cars, including a Lincoln from the 1990s. But an X-ray scan indicated the cars inside did not match it,” said 13 News.
The shipping container, containing several cars, was found to contain three cars intended for Ghana. The cars were 2024 or newer models, and could fetch high prices overseas. Agents estimated that over $150,000 in stolen cars were recovered from the container alone.
According to officials at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, in fiscal year 2025 alone, they have intercepted more than $6.5 million in stolen cars from the Port of Virginia.
In West Africa, criminal organizations typically hang vehicles and pack as many as four in a container, bringing hundreds of thousands of dollars in profit. The vehicles are targeted at rental car facilities or cars purchased through loans with fake names. These profitable portfolios result in extreme losses for banks, dealerships, and rental companies.
“It’s a very lucrative business for these transnational organizations,” said one of the officials.
As crime organization leaders get smarter with how they purchase and transport these stolen cars, the team at U.S. Customs and Border Protection say they are always ready. The officials said they were going to track the changes, and we would adjust as the thieves adjust.
The Outbound Enforcement Team at the port reports that they often find hidden contraband, including guns, in stolen cars. The cars will be processed for seizure and investigated by state police. The Customs and Border Protection has recovered over 1,100 stolen vehicles in 2025, with the Port of Virginia ranking second only to New York.
Stolen cars seized at the Port of Virginia
