The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has returned 21 luxury vehicles valued at over N1.8 billion to Canada after they were stolen and smuggled into Nigeria by a criminal syndicate.

Comptroller General of Customs, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, made the announcement in Lagos, emphasizing the seriousness of the rising trade in stolen vehicles and its detrimental effects on Nigeria's economy and security.

Adeniyi noted that Nigeria has become a significant hub for stolen vehicles in West Africa, with criminal groups exploiting the country's ports and borders to traffic vehicles from regions including Europe, North America, and South America. He cited data from the National Bureau of Statistics showing that only 54% of stolen vehicles were recovered between 2013 and 2015, highlighting the scale of the issue.

“This trend undermines our legitimate automotive market, strains our security infrastructure, and damages Nigeria’s international reputation,” he stated.

He also pointed out that this illegal trade poses challenges to President Tinubu’s economic reforms aimed at positioning Nigeria as a trusted hub for international commerce.

To combat this issue, the NCS launched Operation Hot Wheels, a collaborative initiative involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Canadian authorities, and international law enforcement agencies. The operation focuses on intelligence sharing, surveillance, and interdiction to disrupt vehicle trafficking networks.

Adeniyi revealed that the operation uncovered sophisticated smuggling techniques, including false cargo declarations and containerized shipments used to hide stolen vehicles.

In one operation, officers intercepted a container at Onne Port in Rivers State that was declared to contain used vehicles and spare parts. A physical examination revealed three undeclared 2021 Toyota Highlanders, two of which were confirmed stolen from Canada.