Ghanaian dancehall artiste Charles Nii Armah Mensah, popularly known as Shatta Wale, reportedly begged officers from the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) not to make public the seizure of his 2019 Lamborghini Urus, citing concerns that it would damage his brand.
EOCO, in an official press release issued on Tuesday, August 5, confirmed that it conducted a lawful search and retrieval operation at Shatta Wale’s Trassaco Valley residence in June this year. The operation was carried out in collaboration with the FBI and the United States Department of Justice, following a 2023 request linking the luxury car to the proceeds of crime by a convicted fraudster, Nana Kwabena Amuah.
According to the statement, Shatta Wale pleaded with officers on the scene, stressing that the Lamborghini was a key part of his public image and that public knowledge of the seizure could ruin his reputation. The musician reportedly told EOCO that if fans saw the vehicle being taken away by officials, it would “destroy his brand.”
Despite his plea, EOCO proceeded with the operation but allowed the artiste to surrender the vehicle himself. The organisation emphasised that officers acted professionally and that the process occurred without any incident.
The vehicle is currently in EOCO’s possession, and the U.S. government is expected to send a formal Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) request to Ghana for its return as part of efforts to recover over $4.7 million in restitution owed by Nana Kwabena Amuah, who is serving an 86-month sentence in the U.S. for financial crimes.
EOCO explained that officers from its Surveillance and Asset Recovery Unit (SARU) were armed during the operation in accordance with standard safety protocols.
Both Shatta Wale and a former senior officer of Ghana’s National Signal Bureau (NSB) have been named as persons of interest in the case and are expected to assist EOCO in further investigations.
The release came hours after Shatta Wale went public with a Facebook post accusing EOCO of raiding his home with guns — a post that has since sparked widespread public reaction.
EOCO indicated that a final investigative report may be shared with the FBI and the U.S. Justice Department as part of their ongoing cooperation.
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