Five individuals have been arrested by National Security operatives in a joint crackdown with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) for their alleged involvement in the illegal manufacturing and distribution of fake DV number plates across the country.
The suspects were apprehended in a coordinated intelligence-led operation at Lapaz and Nima (Nahrman) in Accra, as well as Tarkwa in the Western Region and Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
According to the DVLA, the arrests followed credible intelligence linking the suspects to a cartel producing and circulating counterfeit vehicle number plates. Many of the fake plates were reportedly issued alongside forged motor insurance documents to create a false appearance of legitimacy.
The five suspects have since been arraigned before court and remanded into custody. They are scheduled to reappear on March 17, 2026.
Authorities revealed that two additional suspects identified through the intelligence chain remain at large, with efforts ongoing to apprehend them.
The DVLA has cautioned the public against the rising infiltration of fake DV plates into the vehicle registration system, emphasizing that Regulation 23 of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180) strictly defines eligibility for issuance of genuine DV plates.
The Authority further warned that forging, using, or driving vehicles with forged or duplicate number plates constitutes a serious criminal offence under Ghanaian law, posing risks to road safety, national security, and public trust in the vehicle licensing process.