The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized 21 vehicles, valued at several billion naira, that were reportedly stolen from Canada.
This was announced by Comptroller General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi on Tuesday, November 26.
During the briefing, Adeniyi also showcased arms and ammunition intercepted from a commercial bus traveling from Aba, Abia State, to Lagos.
The recovered vehicles include three 2021 Toyota Highlanders, a Mercedes-Benz G550, a Range Rover Sport, a Mercedes-AMG GT, a Lamborghini Huracan, a Rolls-Royce, a 2019 Lamborghini model, and two Range Rovers (2023 and 2018 models), among others.
Addressing journalists at the handover ceremony, the Customs CG highlighted that West Africa has become a significant hub in the global stolen vehicle trade, with networks extending from Europe, North America, South America, and even Australia.
The vehicles were intercepted in Lekki, Tin-Can Island in Lagos, and Onne Port in Rivers State.
“Over the past several months, we have intensified our operations against vehicle trafficking syndicates operating within our borders. According to INTERPOL reports, West Africa has emerged as a notable destination hub in the global stolen vehicle trade network, which extends from Europe and North America to as far as South America and Australia.
This challenge is particularly acute in Nigeria – National Bureau of Statistics data showed that between 2013-2015, only 54% of stolen vehicles were recovered, highlighting the scale and sophistication of this criminal enterprise.
The growing incidence of stolen vehicles finding their way into our region has become a matter of serious concern, as it not only undermines our legitimate automotive market but also strains our security infrastructure,” he stated.
