The investigation into the dismantling of a vast luxury vehicle trafficking network between Europe and Ivory Coast has reached a new stage. A local elected official from the country's central-west region is now under investigation, suspected of complicity in this case with international ramifications.

The implosion of a well-oiled system

The starting point of this case dates back to the arrest of MY, nicknamed "Amada." Despite his incarceration, the alleged mastermind of the network failed to stop the activities of his associates. His lieutenants reportedly continued to import and resell vehicles reported stolen in Europe using sophisticated methods.

Among the key players, an individual posing as a member of the Houphouët-Boigny family is actively being sought. By usurping this prestigious name, he allegedly managed to establish a false credibility to facilitate his transactions. He is currently believed to be in possession of two major vehicles used in the investigation.

1. A blue Jaguar (white interior) stolen in Italy.
2. A BMW M2 , the key piece of evidence that led investigators to a political figure.

A local elected official on the run

The scandal took on a political dimension when the BMW M2 was traced to the mayor of a town near Toumodi . Alerted by the progress of the investigation, the mayor fled and remains at large. Law enforcement is intensifying its search to question him about the origin of his vehicle.

A sprawling financial investigation

Given the scale of the trafficking and suspicions of money laundering , the case now involves several judicial institutions:

1. The Abidjan-Plateau Court (1st, 3rd and 5th cabinets).
2. The Economic and Financial Criminal Unit , responsible for tracking down illicit financial flows.

Did you know? On Saturday, April 26, 2026, authorities published a list of seized or wanted vehicles, including a midnight blue Range Rover Vogue, a Porsche Cayenne S and a BMW M6.

This case highlights the permeability of certain circles of influence to international organized crime. The investigation continues to identify all the local contacts who enabled this network to thrive for so long.