The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has intercepted 21 stolen vehicles stolen from Canada and brought into the country.
Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who disclosed this in Lagos at a press briefing, said the vehicles have been handed over to the Canadian authorities in Nigeria.
Adeniyi disclosed that West African countries have become notable routes for global stolen vehicles, adding that the INTERPOL report showed that West Africa has been discovered to be a destination hub of stolen vehicles from Europe and North America, South America and Australia.
Adeniyi said the Nigeria Customs Service has for months intensified operations against the syndicate specialising in vehicle stealing across the nation’s borders.
According to him, the growing incidence of stolen vehicles finding their way into the region has become a matter of serious concern, saying that this does not only undermine the legitimate automotive market but also strains security infrastructure.
According to him, recent intelligence from international law enforcement agencies further confirms that the West African region has become a preferred destination for internationally stolen vehicles, a trend that not only tarnishes Nigeria’s international image but also impacts its economy through substantial revenue losses and increased security spending.
“The economic implications of this criminal enterprise are far-reaching and deeply concerning. Beyond damaging our legitimate automotive trade sector and international business relationships, it undermines President Tinubu’s economic reform agenda that aims to position Nigeria as a trusted hub for international commerce,” Adeniyi said.
The Customs, he said, is forced to divert substantial resources towards enhanced border management and rigorous verification processes – resources that should ideally be channelled towards trade facilitation initiatives and economic growth programmes.
The CG noted that the criminal activity not only strains the Service’s operational capacity but also threatens government’s efforts to attract foreign investment and establish the country as a reliable partner in global trade.
He disclosed that the Nigeria Customs Service has in response to the menace initiated Operation Hot Wheels, a targeted enforcement initiative aimed at disrupting the flow of stolen vehicles into Nigeria through its ports and borders.
Launched as a collaborative effort between the Nigeria Customs Service, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and Canadian authorities, the operation, Adeniyi disclosed, focused on intelligence sharing, coordinated surveillance, and strategic interdiction.
The operation’s primary objectives, Adeniyi said, included identifying and intercepting stolen vehicles, dismantling trafficking networks, and strengthening international cooperation in combating transnational vehicle theft.
The multi-agency approach, Adeniyi said, was designed to leverage the unique capabilities and jurisdictional advantages of each participating organisation.
Through enhanced intelligence gathering and strategic deployment of resources, he said, officers at various commands have successfully intensified surveillance operations while ensuring minimal disruption to legitimate trade flows.