Sudanese Police CID Recovers Stolen Vehicles, Dismantles Major Criminal Networks
At 6th Regular Police Briefing, CID Highlights Recovery of Looted Property, Cross-Border Crime Crackdown and Criminal Investigation Reforms Amid War Challenges
KHARTOUM — Fath Al-Rahman Zlfou
The General Administration of Central Criminal Investigations (CID) has outlined its achievements in recovering stolen vehicles and looted property, combating criminal networks and tackling cross-border crime at the 6th Regular Police Briefing, organised by the Sudanese Police Headquarters as part of efforts to strengthen security and stability and modernise criminal investigation and technical capabilities.
Police Spokesperson Maj. Gen. Khawad Al-Shami said CID had continued to carry out its duties despite the challenges posed by the war, contributing to the recovery of vital information, the rehabilitation of police facilities and the retrieval of stolen vehicles both inside Sudan and abroad. He also stressed the media’s role in informing the public and highlighting police efforts.
Criminal Investigation: A Strategic Priority
Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah Osman Mohamed Ahmed, Head of the Police Guidance and Services Authority, said criminal investigation remained the cornerstone of police work, with other police departments and units providing essential support through personnel, resources and modern technology.
He noted that evolving criminal methods required stronger coordination with national institutions and international organisations to combat financial crimes, drug trafficking and human trafficking. He also called for greater community engagement and preventive programmes targeting young people.
He underscored the importance of criminal and administrative reports submitted by police stations and state-level commands in identifying and addressing operational challenges, adding that official channels would continue to provide information to the public.
Crime Prevention and Detection
Police Lt. Gen. Hashim Abdel Rahim, Executive Director of Saharoun Radio, described CID as a key pillar of policing, stressing that crime prevention and detection were two fundamental components of frontline police operations.
Drawing on his years of service in Central Criminal Investigations and the Anti-Narcotics Department, he praised police units for continuing to provide services to citizens despite the exceptional challenges created by the war. He urged journalists to examine the briefing papers presented at the event to gain a clearer understanding of the scale of police operations.
Nearly 50,000 Stolen Vehicles Listed in Database
Presenting the criminal situation report, Maj. Gen. Abdel Karim Mohamedou, Director-General of Central Criminal Investigations, said the department had maintained its operations throughout the war.
He reported a 14.8% increase in criminal complaints compared with the preceding period, with a substantial proportion involving financial crimes and thefts linked to residents returning to Khartoum to search for looted belongings.
Mohamedou said 49,638 stolen vehicles had been listed in the INTERPOL database, while 156 vehicles had been located abroad in countries including Chad, Niger, Algeria, Cameroon and Burkina Faso. Efforts were continuing to recover the vehicles and return them to their rightful owners.
Crackdown on Looting Networks and Recovery of Stolen Property
The CID chief said federal operations, coordinated with police forces in various states, had resulted in the recovery of looted property belonging to major companies, the seizure of stolen gold bars and the dismantling of gangs specialising in dismantling vehicle chassis and altering vehicle identities.
He also reported the discovery of a workshop in the Kafouri area containing 34 vehicles, as part of operations targeting organised networks involved in vehicle theft and the concealment of vehicle identities.
Combating Human Trafficking and Tax Evasion
On emerging crimes and money laundering, Mohamedou disclosed that 64 human trafficking cases had been registered, involving 90 suspects and 562 victims of various nationalities.
He announced the establishment of a specialised sub-unit in eastern Sudan to curb the activities of organised criminal gangs.
The Tax Investigations Department, meanwhile, had opened 23 cases and recorded 25,849 violations at border crossings. Collections totalled approximately SDG 38.166 trillion, in addition to more than US$1.76 million, as part of efforts to combat tax evasion and irregularities involving commercial registration records.
Digital Services and Technological Modernisation
Mohamedou highlighted improvements in digital forensic services, particularly the expedited issuance of criminal record certificates and police clearance certificates for Sudanese nationals living abroad.
Electronic integration with the Civil Registry and Sudanese diplomatic missions has enabled applications to be processed within minutes, he said.
He added that police efforts to combat cyber fraud and crimes involving banking applications were continuing, alongside coordination with relevant authorities to address the spread of emerging narcotic substances and raise public awareness of their dangers.
Mohamedou concluded by reaffirming CID’s commitment to modernising investigative procedures, deploying artificial intelligence (AI) and strengthening officers’ professional capabilities to address evolving criminal threats and protect citizens and their property.
