EOCO Seizes Shatta Wale’s Lamborghini Urus in Joint Operation with FBI Over U.S. Fraud Case

The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has confirmed the seizure of a 2019 Lamborghini Urus from the residence of Ghanaian dancehall musician Charles Nii Armah Mensah, popularly known as Shatta Wale, in a joint operation with the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The high-profile seizure, conducted at Shatta Wale’s Trassaco Valley Phase 1 home in Accra in June 2025, is linked to an ongoing investigation into financial crimes committed by Nana Kwabena Amuah, a Ghanaian currently serving an 86-month sentence in the United States for fraud and money laundering.

EOCO’s press release stated that the operation was initiated following a 2023 request from the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice to recover assets tied to Amuah’s criminal enterprise. The 2019 Lamborghini Urus, a luxury asset, was identified as proceeds of Amuah’s multi-million-dollar fraud scheme, which involved defrauding nearly 70 public and private organizations across the U.S. through impersonation and business email compromise scams. Amuah, described by U.S. prosecutors as the leader of the conspiracy, was sentenced in October 2023 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering, with a court-ordered restitution of $4.74 million to his victims.

EOCO’s Surveillance and Asset Recovery Unit (SARU) carried out the lawful search, and the agency emphasized that the operation was conducted professionally and without incident. Shatta Wale reportedly cooperated with authorities, voluntarily surrendering the vehicle after requesting that the seizure not be publicized due to its significance to his public image and brand. EOCO noted that it is standard protocol for SARU officers to be armed during such operations for safety reasons. The vehicle is now in EOCO’s custody, and the FBI and U.S. Justice Department are expected to request its repatriation through a Mutual Legal Assistance process to satisfy the restitution order.

Shatta Wale expressed his frustration on social media, accusing EOCO officials of storming his residence with guns in an act of intimidation. In a statement, he criticized EOCO’s Acting Executive Director, Raymond Archer, and warned of political consequences for the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC). He further claimed that the operation was an attempt to humiliate Ghanaian citizens.

EOCO has named Shatta Wale and a former senior officer of the National Signals Bureau as persons of interest in the ongoing investigation. Both individuals are expected to be invited for questioning to assist with further inquiries. The agency may share its final investigative report with U.S. authorities as part of continued international cooperation to combat cross-border financial crimes.

The seizure underscores Ghana’s efforts to strengthen its asset recovery and anti-money laundering framework in collaboration with international law enforcement. While no formal charges have been filed against Shatta Wale, the incident has sparked widespread public interest and debate, with fans and critics speculating about the musician’s connection to the case. EOCO reiterated its commitment to acting within its legal mandate under Ghana’s Proceeds of Crime Act and urged the public to cooperate in similar investigations.