- Nigeria Customs Intercepts Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini, Other Stolen Vehicles From Canada
- Among the vehicles recovered were a 2019 Lexus RX350, 2019 Mercedes-Benz G550, 2023 Range Rover, 2019 Lamborghini Huracán
- The custom boss described the successful interception as a sign of stronger cooperation between Nigeria and Canada in intelligence gathering, cargo profiling and maritime security enforcement
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has handed over several luxury vehicles stolen from Canada after intercepting them at the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos, in what officials described as a major breakthrough against transnational organised crime.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the recovered vehicles were officially presented to Canada’s Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Nasser Salihou, during a handover ceremony conducted by the Customs Area Controller of Tin Can Port, Comptroller Frank Onyeka.
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The operation followed months of intelligence sharing between the NCS and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), after Canadian investigators traced a number of stolen exotic vehicles to shipments heading for Nigeria.
Among the vehicles recovered were a 2019 Lexus RX350, 2019 Mercedes-Benz G550, 2023 Range Rover, 2019 Lamborghini Huracán, 2021 Rolls-Royce Dawn Convertible, 2018 Lamborghini Aventador and a 2026 Toyota Tundra.
Customs authorities said the vehicles had been stolen in Canada before being illegally exported through international cargo channels into Nigeria.
Comptroller Onyeka explained that one of the recovered vehicles, a Toyota Tacoma, was hidden inside a container carrying other automobiles before Customs officials received intelligence reports from Canadian authorities.
According to him, officers immediately isolated the container and placed the vehicle under enforcement watch pending confirmation from Canadian officials.
“What initially appeared to be a normal cargo shipment later turned into an international criminal investigation after we received intelligence from Canada,” Onyeka said.
He added that Customs refused attempts by third parties to interfere in the recovery process, insisting that the vehicles must only be released directly to the Canadian government.
The Customs boss noted that the operation reflects Nigeria’s growing collaboration with international law enforcement agencies in tackling organised vehicle theft, illicit trade and cross-border criminal activities.
He also described the successful interception as a sign of stronger cooperation between Nigeria and Canada in intelligence gathering, cargo profiling and maritime security enforcement.
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