The Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted and handed over several stolen luxury vehicles traced to Canada, in a major crackdown on transnational vehicle theft syndicates operating through Nigerian ports.
The vehicles, which include high-end brands such as Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce and Mercedes-Benz, were recovered at the Tin Can Island Port and formally returned to Canadian authorities during a handover ceremony on May 4, 2026.
The Deputy High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, Nasser Salihou, received the vehicles from the Customs Area Controller of the Tin Can Island Command, Frank Onyeka.
According to the NCS National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, the interception followed months of intelligence sharing between Nigerian authorities and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Maiwada said investigations revealed that the vehicles were stolen in Canada and smuggled into Nigeria through international shipping networks.
Documents obtained by Customs showed that the recovered automobiles included a 2019 Lexus RX350, a 2019 Mercedes-Benz G550, a 2023 Range Rover, a 2019 Lamborghini Huracán, a 2021 Rolls-Royce Dawn Convertible, a 2018 Lamborghini Aventador and a 2026 Toyota Tundra.
“All the vehicles were confirmed stolen abroad and illegally exported before finding their way into Nigeria,” the statement said.
Speaking at the event, Onyeka disclosed that one of the vehicles, a Toyota Tacoma, was cleverly concealed in a container alongside other automobiles before it was flagged by intelligence reports from Canada.
“What initially appeared to be a routine cargo shipment quickly evolved into an international criminal investigation,” he said.
He explained that Customs officials placed the consignment under strict surveillance and prevented its release pending confirmation from Canadian authorities.
“We had individuals attempting to intervene on behalf of others, but we insisted the process must be handled government-to-government to preserve its integrity,” Onyeka added.
The comptroller described the operation as a strong signal of Nigeria’s growing capacity to combat organised cross-border crime, noting that criminal syndicates increasingly exploit global shipping systems to move stolen vehicles across continents.
He said the successful interception underscored the agency’s commitment to strengthening cargo profiling, intelligence gathering and maritime enforcement.
Onyeka also highlighted the deepening security cooperation between Nigeria and Canada, particularly in tackling illicit trade and asset trafficking.
The development comes amid rising global concerns over the activities of international vehicle theft syndicates targeting emerging markets, including Nigeria, where demand for luxury automobiles remains high.
Authorities, however, say improved surveillance systems and enhanced international collaboration are beginning to yield results in curbing the menace at the nation’s seaports.
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