The Nigeria Customs Service has handed over several stolen luxury vehicles traced to Canada after intercepting them at the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos, marking a major crackdown on international vehicle theft syndicates.
The recovered vehicles, including Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce and Mercedes-Benz models, were officially transferred to Canadian authorities during a ceremony held at the port on Monday, May 4, 2026.
Canada’s Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Nasser Salihou, received the vehicles from the Customs Area Controller of Tin Can Island Command, Comptroller Frank Onyeka.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Abdullahi Maiwada, the operation was made possible through months of intelligence sharing between Nigerian authorities and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Customs documents dated May 5, 2026, revealed that the intercepted vehicles included a 2019 Lexus RX350, 2019 Mercedes-Benz G550, 2023 Land Rover Range Rover, 2019 Lamborghini Huracán, 2021 Rolls-Royce Dawn Convertible, 2018 Lamborghini Aventador and a 2026 Toyota Tundra.
The service stated that all the vehicles were stolen abroad before being illegally shipped into Nigeria.
The statement read, “As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen international confidence in Nigeria’s anti-smuggling and cargo intelligence system, the Nigeria Customs Service has formally handed over intercepted stolen luxury vehicles traced to Canada.
“The handover ceremony took place on Monday, 4 May 2026, at the Tin Can Island Port, where the Deputy High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, Nasser Salihou, officially received the recovered vehicles from the Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Frank Onyeka.
“The recovery followed months of intelligence sharing and operational collaboration between the NCS and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, after authorities in Canada traced a number of stolen high-end vehicles believed to have been smuggled into Nigeria via international shipping channels.
“Internal Customs documents dated 5 May 2026 showed that the intercepted vehicles included a 2019 Lexus RX350, a 2019 Mercedes-Benz G550, a 2023 Land Rover Range Rover, a 2019 Lamborghini Huracán, a 2021 Rolls-Royce Dawn Convertible, a 2018 Lamborghini Aventador and a 2026 Toyota Tundra, all confirmed to have been stolen and illegally exported before ending up in Nigeria.”
Speaking during the handover, Onyeka disclosed that one of the vehicles, a Toyota Tacoma, was hidden inside a container carrying other automobiles before it was intercepted by Customs officers.
He explained that the container was still under Customs control when intelligence from Canadian authorities prompted immediate action.
“What looked like a routine cargo movement quickly became an international criminal investigation.
“Once intelligence reached us, we placed the consignment under enforcement watch and secured the vehicle pending confirmation from Canadian authorities,” Onyeka said.
He added that officers quickly isolated the container after receiving shipping records and intelligence reports from Canada through official diplomatic and enforcement channels.
The Customs boss noted that the agency intentionally withheld the release of the vehicles until Canadian officials arrived in Nigeria to verify and recover them.
“We had people who wanted to step in on behalf of others, but this was too sensitive.
“We insisted the handover must be directly to the Canadian government to preserve the integrity of the process,” he said.
Onyeka described the interception as proof of Nigeria’s improving capacity to fight organised international crime and stolen vehicle trafficking.
He said criminal groups now exploit global shipping routes to transport stolen vehicles across continents while disguising them as legitimate cargo.
According to him, the successful operation highlights the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to improving cargo profiling, intelligence gathering and maritime enforcement.
He added that the operation further strengthened security cooperation between Nigeria and Canada in combating organised cross-border crimes.
“The recovery has further revealed the ongoing cooperation between Nigeria and Canada in intelligence sharing, cargo profiling and maritime enforcement, particularly in tackling organised cross-border crimes involving stolen assets, illicit trade and other fraudulent activities,” he said.
The development comes amid increasing global concerns over rising vehicle theft syndicates using weak international shipping systems to move stolen luxury cars into emerging markets.
Security experts say African ports have become attractive targets for international car theft networks due to strong demand for exotic vehicles and weak verification systems in some areas.
However, Nigerian authorities maintain that improved cargo intelligence systems and stronger international partnerships are enhancing surveillance at the nation’s seaports.
Tin Can Island Port remains one of Nigeria’s busiest gateways for imported vehicles and container cargo, processing thousands of shipments every year.