Customs Hands Over Recovered Stolen Cars to Canadian Govt
By Patience Ikpeme
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has officially returned a fleet of stolen luxury vehicles to the Canadian government following a high-stakes maritime recovery operation.
The handover ceremony took place on Monday at the Tin Can Island Port Command in Lagos. Nasser Salihou, the Deputy High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, took custody of the recovered assets from the Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Frank Onyeka.
This diplomatic exchange marks the conclusion of months of intense intelligence sharing and operational synergy between the NCS and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
The intercepted cargo featured an array of high-end automobiles traced back to Canadian soil after being smuggled through international shipping channels.
Among the recovered assets were a 2019 Lexus RX350, a 2019 Mercedes-Benz G550, a 2023 Land Rover Range Rover, and a 2021 Rolls-Royce Dawn Convertible.
The haul also included exotic supercars such as a 2019 Lamborghini Huracán and a 2018 Lamborghini Aventador, alongside a brand-new 2026 Toyota Tundra.
Comptroller Onyeka disclosed that the operation was triggered by specific alerts regarding a Toyota Tacoma that had been concealed within a container alongside other vehicles. The illicit cargo had not yet exited Customs control when the intervention occurred.
Once shipping documentation was transmitted through official channels, officers moved to isolate the suspicious consignment and place it under enforcement custody.
“What looked like a routine cargo movement quickly became an international criminal investigation. Once intelligence reached us, we placed the consignment under enforcement watch and secured the vehicle pending confirmation from Canadian authorities,” Comptroller Onyeka said.
The Command maintained a strict protocol throughout the investigation, ensuring that the recovery process remained insulated from outside influence. The Service opted to hold the vehicles in a secure facility until Canadian officials could verify the assets in person.
“We had people who wanted to step in on behalf of others, but this was too sensitive. We insisted the handover must be directly to the Canadian government to preserve the integrity of the process,” the Comptroller added.
This successful recovery serves as a clear warning to organized crime groups that exploit global shipping routes to move stolen property across continents. It showcases the strengthening ties between Nigeria and Canada regarding maritime enforcement and cargo profiling.
Beyond the recovery of physical assets, the operation demonstrates an evolving capacity to tackle organized cross-border crimes and fraudulent trade activities through real-time international cooperation.
