Media Team
Shatta Wale’s 2019 Lamborghini Seized Over \$4.7M US Fraud Case
A 2019 Lamborghini Urus belonging to popular Ghanaian dancehall artist, Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr., popularly known as Shatta Wale, has been seized.
The luxury vehicle was confiscated by Ghana’s Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), in partnership with the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Justice Department.
According to a press release issued by EOCO’s acting Executive Director, Raymond Archer, the operation followed a request from US authorities in 2023. The seizure occurred at Shatta Wale’s residence in Trassaco Valley Phase 1, Accra.
“In June this year, the Economic and Organised Crime Office, acting on a 2023 request from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States Justice Department, undertook an operation which led to a lawful search in a home at Trassaco Valley Phase 1, in Accra.
The operation, carried out by the Surveillance And Asset Recovery Unit (SARU) of EOCO, resulted in the discovery and seizure of a 2019 Lamborghini Urus, which the FBI and Justice Department linked to proceeds of a criminal enterprise run by one Nana Kwabena Amuah, currently serving an 86-month sentence in the US,” the statement read.
EOCO confirmed that the vehicle was in Shatta Wale’s possession. He was allowed to surrender it voluntarily to prevent public attention.
“The car was seized from one Charles Nii Armah, aka Shatta Wale. The officers were professional and civil, and the search and seizure occurred without incident. Nii Armah had pleaded with officers not to make the seizure public because the vehicle was a major part of his brand. He was allowed to surrender the vehicle himself, which is currently in EOCO’s custody,” the agency added.
EOCO clarified that SARU officers were armed during the operation as a standard safety protocol.
“It is a standard safety protocol for SARU officers to carry weapons during operations for their own safety,” the statement said.
According to EOCO, the Lamborghini is tied to criminal proceeds from Nana Kwabena Amuah, who owes \$4.74 million in restitution to US authorities. The vehicle is expected to be returned to the US as part of that recovery.
“The FBI and Justice Department intend to send a formal Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) to the Government of Ghana to return the car as part of Nana Kwabena Amuah’s \$4,743,443 restitution. Charles Nii Armah, aka Shatta Wale, and a former senior officer of the National Signal Bureau (NSB) are persons of interest and will be invited by EOCO to assist in ongoing investigations.”
EOCO concluded by stating it may share its final investigation report with US authorities.
“EOCO may share the final investigations report with the FBI and the Justice Department as part of our continued cooperation,” the statement concluded.
