Nigeria Customs Service Returns Stolen Luxury Vehicles Worth ₦1.8b To Canada

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has repatriated 21 high-end vehicles worth over ₦1.8 billion to Canada after uncovering a smuggling operation orchestrated by an international criminal syndicate. The vehicles, including luxury brands such as Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce, and Mercedes-Benz, were recovered as part of a crackdown on stolen vehicle trafficking.
Speaking to journalists, the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, highlighted the growing problem of stolen vehicles being smuggled into Nigeria. He noted that the country has become a significant hub for trafficking stolen cars across West Africa, with syndicates exploiting Nigeria’s ports and borders to smuggle vehicles from Europe, North America, and South America.
“This trend undermines our legitimate automotive market, strains our security infrastructure, and damages Nigeria’s international reputation,” Adeniyi said. He also warned that the illicit trade threatens President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms aimed at transforming Nigeria into a trusted hub for global commerce.
To address the challenge, the NCS launched Operation Hot Wheels, a collaborative initiative with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Canadian authorities, and international law enforcement agencies. The operation leveraged intelligence sharing, surveillance, and interdiction to dismantle smuggling networks. Adeniyi revealed that during the operation, customs officers intercepted a container at Onne Port in Rivers State. Although declared to contain used vehicles and spare parts, a physical inspection uncovered three undeclared 2021 Toyota Highlanders, two of which were confirmed as stolen from Canada.

source: reportafrique.com

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