Nigerian Customs handed over stolen luxury cars obtained from Canada in a major anti-smuggling operation

The Nigerian Customs Service has transferred a fleet of luxury vehicles found linked to an international car theft operation to Canadian authorities after intercepting them at the Tin Can Island Harbor in Lagos.

The handover ceremony took place on Monday, May 4, 2026, at the Lagos port facility, where the Deputy High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, Nasser Salihou, officially received the reclaimed car from the Tin Can Island Command Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Frank Onyeka.

Among the vehicles recovered were several high-end models, including Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Land Rover and Toyota brands that were believed to have been stolen in Canada and illegally shipped to Nigeria via international cargo routes.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the National Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Customs Service, Abdullahi Maiwada, the successful interception was the result of extensive collaboration between the Nigerian Customs Service and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

An investigation revealed that the vehicle had been stolen in Canada before being moved through international shipping lanes and ultimately traced to Nigeria.

Customs records dated May 5, 2026, identify the recovered vehicles as a 2019 Lexus RX350, 2019 Mercedes-Benz G550, 2023 Land Rover Range Rover, 2019 Lamborghini Huracán, 2021 Rolls-Royce Dawn Convertible, 2018 Lamborghini Aventador, and 2026 Toyota Tundra.

The agency confirmed that all the vehicles were exported illegally after being stolen abroad.

A Customs statement said, “As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen international confidence in Nigeria’s anti-smuggling and cargo intelligence systems, the Nigerian Customs Service has officially handed over a stolen luxury vehicle that was intercepted and traced to Canada.

“The handover ceremony took place on Monday, May 4, 2026, at the Tin Can Island Harbor, where the Deputy High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, Nasser Salihou, officially received the recovered vehicle from the Customs Area Comptroller Command, Comptroller Frank Onyeka.

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“This recovery follows months of intelligence sharing and operational collaboration between the NCS and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, after authorities in Canada tracked down a number of stolen high-end vehicles believed to have been smuggled into Nigeria via international shipping lanes.

“Internal Customs documents dated May 5, 2026 show that the vehicles intercepted included a 2019 Lexus RX350, 2019 Mercedes-Benz G550, 2023 Land Rover Range Rover, 2019 Lamborghini Huracán, 2021 Rolls-Royce Dawn Convertible, 2018 Lamborghini Aventador, and 2026 Toyota Tundra, all confirmed to have been stolen and illegally exported before ending in Nigeria.”

During the event, Comptroller Onyeka revealed that Customs officers discovered one of the stolen vehicles, a Toyota Tacoma, hidden inside a container carrying another car.

He explained that the shipment was still under Customs control when an intelligence report from Canadian authorities prompted officers to place it under strict surveillance.

“What appeared to be a routine cargo movement quickly became an international criminal investigation.

“After intelligence reached us, we placed the shipment under law enforcement custody and secured the vehicle pending confirmation from Canadian authorities,” Onyeka said.

Customs Zone Inspectors stated that officers immediately isolated the container after receiving detailed shipping information and intelligence reports through diplomatic and law enforcement channels from Canada.

According to him, the agency deliberately delayed the release of the recovered vehicles until Canadian representatives arrived in Nigeria for proper verification and official transfer.

“We have people who want to intervene on behalf of others, but this is too sensitive.

“We insist that the handover must be made directly to the Canadian government to maintain the integrity of the process,” he said.

Onyeka described the operation as evidence of Nigeria’s increasing capabilities in tackling international organized crime, particularly vehicle theft and smuggling syndicates operating across the continent.

He warned that criminal groups are increasingly exploiting the global shipping system to disguise stolen vehicles as legitimate cargo and move them between countries undetected.

The Customs Chief added that the successful recovery underscores the agency’s increased investment in cargo profiling, intelligence gathering and maritime law enforcement operations.

He further noted that the exercise highlights the strengthening of the partnership between Nigerian and Canadian authorities in combating cross-border crimes involving stolen assets and illicit trafficking.

“This recovery further demonstrates the ongoing cooperation between Nigeria and Canada in intelligence sharing, cargo profiling and maritime law enforcement, particularly in addressing organized cross-border crime involving stolen assets, illicit trafficking and other fraudulent activities,” he said.

The incident comes amid growing global concern over sophisticated vehicle theft syndicates exploiting weaknesses in the international shipping system to transport stolen luxury cars to emerging markets.

Security analysts have warned that African ports are becoming attractive destinations for international car theft networks due to growing demand for exotic cars and inadequate verification processes in some regions.

Despite these concerns, Nigerian authorities argue that recent improvements in cargo intelligence and increased international cooperation are helping tighten security and surveillance across the country’s ports.

Tin Can Island Port remains one of Nigeria’s busiest hubs for imported vehicles and container traffic, processing thousands of shipments annually.