Watch moment Wanderlust team parted with their two cars impounded in Congo

On Thursday, November 28, 2024, Wanderlust Ghana, an expedition team embarking on a 30,000-kilometer cross-country expedition, announced an abrupt end to their adventure.

According to the group, their decision was informed by the seizure of two of their cars — a 2016 Lexus RC 350 and a 2018 Toyota Tacoma — by authorities in Congo, due to the cars being flagged as stolen from Canada.

Following the announcement, the group shared a video of the moment they had to part with the cars while hoping that their passports, which were also seized by the authorities, would be released to facilitate their return to Ghana.

“The end of an era: our beloved Lexus RX 350 was impounded in Congo because it was reported stolen to Interpol, but this report is coming five years after the theft. We purchased it in good conscience, not knowing it was stolen. It was actually the fourth buyer; he is actually the fourth owner. The Tacoma was purchased in 2020. Before purchase, a Carfax report was checked, and we checked with Ghana Customs; the car was clean. We’ve used the car for two years. It was reported stolen to Interpol in 2024, two years after purchase, and also impounded in Congo.

“Our passports have currently been confiscated, but they are conducting investigations to determine our culpability or innocence, at which time we hopefully will be given back our passports to travel,” a member of the team explained in the video.

He added that the remaining car in the fleet, a Ford F150, passed the checks and will be shipped back to Ghana following the decision to suspend the expedition.

“That is the Ford; it passed the Interpol check, so there is no problem. We are still at the border post in Congo Brazzaville, having entered from Cabinda, a territory of Angola. So these are the final images you will ever see from Wanderlust of the Tacoma and the Lexus. We are saying our goodbyes and hoping we will get our passports as soon as possible and take a flight back to Ghana and start over again,” he stated.

He added that the group will also take on the role of sensitizing the public against the purchase of stolen cars.

The group further emphasised their resolve to continue with their expedition around the world.

In July this year, Wanderlust completed a 10,000-kilometer journey by land from Ghana to London.

The group later commenced a 30,000-kilometer journey from Ghana, which was supposed to see them go through over 30 countries, including South Africa and Dubai.

The team had done over 27,000 kilometers out of the total when two of their cars were impounded by Congolese officials, bringing their adventure to an end.



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