Customs Returns Stolen Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini, Range Rovers, 18 Other Cars Worth ₦1.8B To Canada

Nigeria Customs returns 21 stolen luxury Cars worth over ₦1.8b to Canada, following their successful recovery across the nation.

Recovered luxury cars includes 3 Highlander SUVs and 2 Range Rovers (2023 and 2018 models) intercepted in Lekki.

Others are Rolls-Royce Wraith, Lamborghini Huracan, Mercedes G550 and a Range Rover Sport – all 21 recovered in Lagos and Rivers State.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has returned Twenty-One (21) luxury vehicles worth over ₦1.8 billion to Canada, following the successful recovery of the stolen vehicles smuggled into Nigeria by a criminal syndicate.

Speaking to journalists during the formal handing over of the recovered vehicles to Canadian Authority, Comptroller General of Customs, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, revealed that the vehicles were Intercepted in Lekki, Tin-Can Island in Lagos and Onne Port, Rivers State.

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The stolen vehicles

Some of the high-end vehicles that Nigeria Customs returned includes three (3) undeclared 2021 Toyota Highlander SUVs, two of which were confirmed stolen from Canada.

Others are Rolls-Royce Wraith and a 2019 Lamborghini Huracan, both recovered in Victoria Island, 2 Range Rovers (2023 and 2018 models) intercepted in Lekki, and a Mercedes-Benz G550 and a Range Rover Sport, seized along the Trinity Axis in Lagos.

Citing a report by INTERPOL that West Africa has emerged as a notable destination hub in the global stolen vehicle trade network, the Customs boss emphasized the seriousness of the growing trade in stolen vehicles and its impact on Nigeria’s economy and security.

“This challenge is particularly acute in Nigeria – National Bureau of Statistics data showed that between 2013-2015, only 54% of stolen vehicles were recovered, highlighting the scale and sophistication of this criminal enterprise.”

“The growing incidence of stolen vehicles finding their way into our region has become a matter of serious concern, as it not only undermines our legitimate automotive market but also strains our security infrastructure,” he stated.

To curb the menace, the Customs boss stated Nigeria Customs Service initiated Operation Hot Wheels, a targeted enforcement initiative aimed at disrupting the flow of stolen vehicles into Nigeria through our ports and borders.

“Launched as a collaborative effort between the Nigeria Customs Service, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and Canadian authorities, the operation focused on intelligence sharing, coordinated surveillance, and strategic interdiction.”

“The operation’s primary objectives included identifying and intercepting stolen vehicles, dismantling trafficking networks, and strengthening international cooperation in combating transnational vehicle theft.”

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