A motorist was stopped in Abidjan on Monday, February 16, 2026, by a crew from the National Gendarmerie's Road Safety Group (GSR) while driving a gray Mazda with a clearly forged license plate. This intervention quickly revealed an even more serious matter: the vehicle contained approximately thirty counterfeit documents of various kinds.

The driver, identified as TO, aged 37, confessed to the offense during his initial questioning. He admitted not only that the license plate was fake, but also that he had been using it for several years as a way to evade traffic stops. The police immediately arrested him and impounded the vehicle, which was taken to the pound for the purposes of the investigation.

The suspect has been placed at the disposal of the National Gendarmerie's Research Section, which has opened a judicial investigation. The investigation is ongoing to determine the exact origin of the forged documents found, how they were produced, and any potential networks involved in their distribution.

This operation is part of the enforcement phase of the extensive "Zero Tolerance" campaign launched by the Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs. It aims in particular to combat illegal, obscured, or falsified license plates, as well as road safety practices that contribute to insecurity and sometimes provide fertile ground for organized crime.

The authorities take this opportunity to remind everyone that administrative, diplomatic, or special license plates do not exempt drivers from strictly adhering to the Highway Code. Their fraudulent use exposes offenders to severe criminal penalties, ranging from fines to imprisonment, depending on the seriousness of the offenses committed.

This arrest sends a strong message to road users and confirms the determination of law enforcement to strengthen controls throughout the country. Combating counterfeit documents, illegal vehicle registrations, and practices that circumvent road safety regulations remains a priority for Ivorian authorities in order to protect citizens and prevent criminal acts related to these abuses.