Trafficked with Mariana Van Zeller

A reporter tracks a smuggling route that moves cars stolen in the United States into shipping containers destined for West Africa, where demand for such vehicles is soaring. The investigation reveals how the illicit trade exploits the growing market in the region.

Stolen Cars is a programme episode that centres on a journalist’s investigation into an international vehicle‑theft network. The show follows the reporter as they trace the path taken by stolen automobiles, offering viewers a look at how these cars move across borders. It’s presented in a straightforward style, keeping the focus on the factual journey rather than dramatised storytelling. In the core of the episode, the reporter tracks a specific smuggling corridor that begins in the United States. Cars that have been lifted there are loaded into shipping containers, which are then dispatched toward ports in West Africa. Once the containers arrive, the vehicles are off‑loaded and sold, feeding a market where demand for such cars is soaring. The programme documents each step of this chain, from the initial theft to the final sale. The episode also highlights how the appetite for these stolen vehicles is rapidly increasing in West Africa, creating a lucrative incentive for the smugglers. By following the containers’ journey, the report shows the efficiency of the operation and the scale of the problem. Throughout, the journalist provides commentary that ties the movement of the cars to the growing consumer interest in the region. By the end of the episode, viewers are left with a clearer picture of how a simple theft in the US can end up fueling a booming market thousands of miles away, underscoring the global reach of the crime.