The Directorate General for Land Transport and Traffic (DGTTC), in collaboration with the Defense and Security Forces, launched on Monday, February 16, 2026, in Abidjan, an operation to inspect and crack down on fake, concealed, and illegal license plates, resulting in several vehicles being impounded.

According to the Director General of the DGTTC, Oumar Sacko, the operation reflects the government’s determination to strengthen road safety in Côte d’Ivoire.

Announced a few weeks ago, this repressive phase of the campaign against concealed and illegal license plates is part of a broader “zero tolerance” initiative targeting road user misconduct.

Administrative vehicles found in violation, particularly those with deliberately concealed license plates, are seized and transferred to the administrative impound lot of the Administrative Vehicle Management Office (BGVA).

Oumar Sacko also specified that privately owned vehicles with hidden or altered official license plates are immediately taken to the impound yard. He added that the release of any vehicle is subject to the full payment of all applicable fines, including those issued through video-based traffic enforcement.

The Commander of the Road Safety Unit, Lieutenant Colonel Serges Dodora, emphasized that the Defense and Security Forces are currently engaged in a process to regularize their vehicle registrations. “They present regularization documents provided by the DGTTC,” he stated. He assured that the operation is being conducted with both courtesy and firmness.