Customs repatriates 21 stolen vehicles to Canada

THE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has handed over 21 stolen vehicles to Canadian authorities in a significant move to combat international car theft.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, who disclosed this, yesterday, during the handover in Lagos, decried the alarming trend of West Africa emerging as a hub in the global stolen vehicle trade.

He said this illicit network spans continents, stretching from Europe and North America to South America and Australia.

“Over the past several months, we have intensified our operations against vehicle trafficking syndicates operating within our borders. The growing incidence of stolen vehicles not only undermines our legitimate automotive market but also strains our security infrastructure,” Adeniyi stated.

Adeniyi stated that INTERPOL reports confirm Nigeria’s prominence in this illicit trade, compounded by data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which revealed that only 54 per cent of stolen vehicles were recovered between 2013 and 2015.

The Customs boss, who emphasised the economic implications, warned that the activities undermine President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reform agenda and damage Nigeria’s international reputation as a hub for commerce.

He said the service is forced to divert substantial resources toward enhanced border management and rigorous verification processes.

Adeniyi explained that this strains Nigeria’s capacity and threatens efforts to attract foreign investment and establish the country as a reliable trade partner.

He said that the NCS had launched Operation Hot Wheels, a multi-agency initiative, in collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Canadian authorities, to intercept stolen vehicles, dismantle trafficking networks, and bolster international cooperation.

The Customs boss said that the one 40ft container intercepted at Onne Port, Rivers State, which was declared as holding used vehicles and spareparts, was found to contain three undeclared 2021 Toyota Highlander vehicles.

He said two were confirmed stolen from Canada through Operation Screen West Africa (OSWA) and INTERPOL.

Adeniyi also said that at the Tincan Island Port, additional vehicles, including three Toyota Highlander 2021 models, were recovered through intelligence-led operations.

He attributed the success to enhanced risk management systems and robust international partnerships.