Customs hand over stolen luxury vehicles to Canada

In a significant display of international cooperation against transnational crime, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has successfully repatriated a cache of stolen luxury vehicles to Canada. The Punch reports that these high-end vehicles, including coveted brands like Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce, and Mercedes-Benz, were intercepted at the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos. This operation, described as a major breakthrough, highlights the effectiveness of intelligence sharing and collaborative efforts between Nigerian authorities and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

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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.

From Nigeria's standpoint, this event is a testament to the nation's commitment to combating illicit trade and strengthening its reputation as a responsible player in global commerce. The NCS's proactive interception and subsequent handover of these stolen assets demonstrate a robust anti-smuggling and cargo intelligence system. The formal ceremony, where Canada's Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Nasser Salihou, received the vehicles from Customs Area Controller Comptroller Frank Onyeka, underscores the diplomatic significance of this operation.

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The handover ceremony took place on Monday, May 4, 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 process, which involved months of meticulous intelligence gathering, traced the vehicles from Canada, where they were stolen, through international shipping networks to their eventual surfacing in Nigeria. The detailed list of recovered vehicles, including specific models and years, as documented in internal Customs documents, showcases the thoroughness of the operation. This successful collaboration not only thwarts criminal syndicates but also reinforces Nigeria's role in upholding international law and order, assuring global partners of its dedication to securing trade routes and preventing the illicit flow of goods.

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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.