The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has successfully recovered and returned 21 stolen luxury vehicles worth over N1.8 billion to Canada. The vehicles, including a Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce, and Mercedes-Benz, were smuggled into Nigeria by a criminal syndicate.
Comptroller General of Customs, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, emphasized the severity of the growing trade in stolen vehicles, which undermines Nigeria’s economy, security, and international reputation. According to Adeniyi, Nigeria has become a significant hub for stolen vehicles in West Africa, with only 54% of stolen vehicles recovered between 2013 and 2015.
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To combat this challenge, the NCS launched Operation Hot Wheels, a collaborative initiative with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Canadian authorities, and international law enforcement agencies. The operation has been successful in disrupting vehicle trafficking networks and recovering stolen vehicles .
Some of the recovered vehicles include:
Lamborghini Huracan and Mercedes-AMG GT: valued at ₦630.8 million, intercepted in Lagos
Rolls-Royce: valued at ₦231.8 million, recovered in Victoria Island
Range Rovers: worth ₦267.1 million, intercepted in Lekki
Mercedes-Benz G550 and Range Rover Sport: worth ₦506.8 million, seized in Lagos
The NCS has reaffirmed its commitment to fighting transnational crime and protecting Nigeria’s economy and national integrity. The success of Operation Hot Wheels demonstrates the effectiveness of international collaboration in dismantling transnational crime networks