The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 21 luxury vehicles stolen from Canada, with an estimated value of several billions of naira. Among the recovered vehicles are high-end brands such as Rolls Royce, Lamborghini, and Mercedes-Benz.
The seizure highlights the growing prevalence of cross-border vehicle theft and trafficking operations.
The confiscated vehicles include three 2021 Toyota Highlanders, a Mercedes-AMG GT alongside a Lamborghini Huracan, a Mercedes-Benz G550, a Range Rover Sport, a Rolls Royce, and a 2019 Lamborghini model. Other vehicles in the haul include two Range Rovers (2023 and 2018 models) and additional 2021 Toyota Highlanders, among others.
The interceptions occurred at key locations, including Lekki, Tin-Can Island in Lagos, and Onne Port in Rivers State.
Speaking to the press on Tuesday, Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) Bashir Adewale Adeniyi revealed that the operation reflects a strategic crackdown on international trafficking syndicates.
“Over the past several months, we have intensified our operations against vehicle trafficking syndicates operating within our borders,” CGC Adeniyi said.
The vehicles were formally handed over to Canadian authorities as part of ongoing collaboration efforts.
Adeniyi cited INTERPOL reports highlighting West Africa’s role as a growing hub for stolen vehicles trafficked across continents, including Europe, North America, South America, and Australia.
The interception underscores the global scale of cross-border vehicle theft, a billion-dollar criminal enterprise. Criminal syndicates often target high-value vehicles in developed countries, exploiting porous borders and weak regulatory frameworks in other regions to transport and resell stolen vehicles.
West Africa, in particular, has gained notoriety as a destination for smuggled vehicles due to high demand and insufficient oversight. Stolen cars are frequently shipped in containers under false declarations or through unauthorized channels to evade detection.
To combat this issue, global partnerships between law enforcement agencies, such as INTERPOL, and local authorities have intensified. Countries like Canada, where the vehicles were stolen, rely on intelligence-sharing agreements to trace stolen assets and dismantle transnational criminal networks.
This case shines a spotlight on Nigeria’s vulnerabilities to international trafficking networks and the broader security implications of vehicle smuggling. Beyond the economic losses, stolen vehicle trafficking often intersects with other criminal enterprises, including money laundering and organized crime.
The Nigeria Customs Service’s success in this operation demonstrates the importance of interagency coordination and international cooperation. However, experts stress the need for more robust policies, technological investments in border surveillance, and stricter penalties for offenders to deter future incidents.
This high-profile recovery sends a strong message to trafficking syndicates while also encouraging cross-border law enforcement collaborations to combat the global stolen vehicle trade.
Copyright Ships & Ports Ltd. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit given to www.shipsandports.com.ng as the source.
