In June 2025, Ghana’s Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) seized a 2019 Lamborghini Urus found in the possession of Ghanaian dancehall artist, Shatta Wale. This was a delayed response to a request made in 2019 by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the United States Justice Department.
The bust, which only came to public attention through a press release made by EOCO on 5th August, was conducted at his Trassaco Valley Phase 1 residence in Accra. The operation was linked to a U.S. investigation into Nana Kwabena Amuah, a convicted fraudster currently serving an 86-month sentence in the U.S. for financial crimes. Authorities believe the car was purchased with proceeds from Amuah’s fraudulent activities.
Rather than a dramatic public seizure, EOCO allowed Shatta Wale, whose real name is Charles Nii Armah, to surrender the vehicle quietly. He had reportedly pleaded with operatives not to make the incident public, citing the Lamborghini as a core part of his public image—thus highlighting how deeply entwined luxury vehicles have become with the identity and image of today’s celebrities.
The Lamborghini Urus isn’t just any car. It has evolved into the ultimate flex for celebrities across Africa and beyond. As explored in a 234Drive article, cars like the Urus have become part of the visual grammar of stardom: fast, expensive, and unmistakably elite and for many fans, the car is the status. So when a pop culture figure like Shatta Wale is linked to a cross-border fraud investigation through such a car, not only does it raise legal questions, it rattles the celebrity economy that thrives on such symbols.
The agency emphasised that officers were armed during the operation as a safety precaution but maintained that the seizure was carried out without incident.
According to EOCO, the car is being prepared for repatriation to the U.S. as part of a $4.7 million restitution owed by Amuah. Shatta Wale and a former National Signal Bureau officer have both been labeled persons of interest and are expected to assist further investigations.
EOCO may share its final investigation report with U.S. authorities, signaling just how serious and international this case has become.
For all the glitz and glam that accompanies celebrity lifestyle, this incident serves as a sobering reminder that symbols of success—fast cars, expensive brands and viral visibility—are not always what they seem.
