Anti-Smuggling Breakthrough:
Customs recovers stolen cars, hands-over to Canada
Lagos, May 10, 2026 ,The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reinforced international confidence in Nigeria’s anti-smuggling and cargo intelligence framework with the formal handover of intercepted stolen luxury vehicles traced to Canada.
The National Public Relations Officer of customs, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, made this known in a statement in Lagos on Sunday.
According to him, the handover ceremony was held on Monday, May 4, 2026, at the Tin Can Island Port.
He said that the Deputy High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, Nasser Salihou, officially received the recovered vehicles from the Customs Area Controller, Tin Can Island Command, Comptroller Frank Onyeka.
“The recovery came after months of intelligence exchange and operational cooperation between the Nigeria Customs Service and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
“Canadian authorities had tracked several stolen luxury vehicles allegedly smuggled into Nigeria through international shipping networks.
“From the internal Customs document dated May 5, 2026, the recovered vehicles included a 2019 Lexus RX350, 2019 Mercedes-Benz G550, 2023 Land Rover Range Rover, 2019 Lamborghini Huracán, 2021 Rolls-Royce Dawn Convertible, 2018 Lamborghini Aventador, and a 2026 Toyota Tundra,”Maiwada said.
He said that investigations confirmed that all the vehicles mentioned had been stolen and illegally exported before being traced to Nigeria.
Addressing journalists after the handover at the Tin Can Island Customs Area Command, Comptroller Onyeka revealed that one of the vehicles, a Toyota Tacoma, was hidden inside a container transporting other vehicles.
The Tincan Island Customs boss said that the discovery vehicle had not yet left customs custody before intelligence from Canadian authorities prompted swift action.
He explained that immediately customs received the alert, along with the relevant shipping documentation through official channels, officers quickly identified and isolated the suspicious consignment.
Onyeka said that vehicle was extracted and placed under enforcement custody pending diplomatic confirmation.
“What initially appeared to be a normal cargo shipment quickly turned into an international criminal investigation.
“Once the intelligence got to us, we immediately placed the consignment under enforcement watch and secured the vehicle pending confirmation from Canadian authorities,” Comptroller Onyeka said.
He further noted that the service intentionally withheld final release of the vehicle until representatives of the Canadian government arrived personally to complete identification and recovery procedures.
“We had individuals attempting to intervene on behalf of others, but the matter was too sensitive. We insisted that the handover must be done directly to the Canadian government to maintain the credibility and integrity of the process,” he said.
Comptroller Onyeka stressed that the operation demonstrates the Nigeria Customs Service’s determination to combat transnational vehicle theft syndicates that exploit global shipping routes to traffic stolen automobiles across borders.
He also highlighted that the successful recovery further strengthens ongoing collaboration between Nigeria and Canada intelligence sharing.
Onyeka mention other collaboration with NCS and Canada such as cargo profiling, and maritime enforcement, especially in addressing organised cross-border crimes involving stolen property, illicit trade, and related fraudulent activities.