The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has confirmed conducting a lawful search and seizure operation at the Trassaco Valley Phase 1 residence of Ghanaian dancehall artiste Charles Nii Armah Mensah, popularly known as Shatta Wale.
The operation, carried out in June this year by EOCO’s Surveillance and Asset Recovery Unit (SARU), followed a 2023 request from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) as part of an ongoing international investigation into financial crimes.
During the operation, EOCO officers seized a 2019 Lamborghini Urus reportedly tied to criminal proceeds belonging to one Nana Kwabena Amuah, a Ghanaian currently serving an 86-month sentence in the U.S. for multiple financial offences.
The vehicle, according to both U.S. and Ghanaian authorities, was purchased with proceeds from Amuah’s criminal enterprise and had been traced to Shatta Wale.
EOCO stated that the operation was executed lawfully and without incident. The officers were described as “professional and civil” during the search.
Shatta Wale is said to have pleaded with officers not to make the seizure public, expressing concern that the vehicle was central to his brand image and that the publicity could damage his reputation.
He was permitted to voluntarily surrender the vehicle, which is now in EOCO’s custody.
EOCO clarified that it is standard protocol for SARU officers to be armed during such operations to ensure the safety of personnel involved.
The FBI and DOJ are expected to send a formal Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) request to the Government of Ghana for the repatriation of the Lamborghini to the U.S. as part of efforts to recover a $4.7 million restitution imposed on Amuah.
EOCO also revealed that Shatta Wale and a former senior officer of Ghana’s National Signals Bureau (NSB) have been designated as persons of interest. They are expected to be invited by EOCO to assist in the ongoing investigations.
The Ghanaian crime office says it may share the final investigation report with the FBI and DOJ as part of ongoing international cooperation.
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