Wale Adeniyi, Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, has officially transferred 21 luxury vehicles, valued at over ₦8.1 billion, to the Canadian government. These vehicles, including brands like Rolls Royce, Lamborghini Huracán, Mercedes-AMG, and Range Rover, were identified as stolen from Canada, the United States, and Europe and subsequently smuggled into Nigeria with forged documentation.
INTERPOL has flagged certain West African countries, including Nigeria, as key destinations for these stolen exotic cars. Adeniyi explained that a criminal syndicate was responsible for importing these vehicles into Nigeria, and through the collaborative Operation Hot Wheel, law enforcement agencies have successfully recovered the stolen cars.
Operation Hot Wheel is a joint initiative involving the Nigeria Customs Service, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Canadian government. Adeniyi highlighted that the operation’s success was due to the close cooperation between Nigerian and Canadian authorities, as well as the EFCC.
During the handover ceremony, Adeniyi emphasized Nigeria Customs’ commitment to dismantling vehicle trafficking networks within the country. According to INTERPOL, West Africa has become a significant hub in the global network for stolen vehicles, with Nigeria facing a particularly severe challenge.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics indicates that only 54% of stolen vehicles were recovered between 2013 and 2015, underscoring the sophistication of these criminal operations. Adeniyi expressed concern over the growing influx of stolen vehicles, which threatens the legitimate automotive market and strains security resources.
He noted that this trend not only tarnishes Nigeria’s international reputation but also results in significant economic losses due to revenue shortfalls and increased security costs. The illicit trade undermines President Tinubu’s economic reform efforts aimed at positioning Nigeria as a global commerce hub.
In response, the Nigeria Customs Service has allocated resources to enhance border management and verification processes, though these efforts detract from trade facilitation and economic development. The ongoing vehicle trafficking also jeopardizes government initiatives to attract foreign investment and foster international trade partnerships.
Operation Hot Wheels was launched to address these challenges, focusing on intercepting stolen vehicles, dismantling trafficking networks, and enhancing international cooperation. The operation relies on intelligence sharing, coordinated surveillance, and strategic interdictions to achieve its goals.
Recent intelligence-led actions at the Area II Command, Onne Port, led to the interception of a container declared as holding used vehicles and auto parts. Inside, officers discovered three undeclared 2021 Toyota Highlander vehicles, two of which were confirmed stolen from Canada.
The Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ also made significant recoveries, including a Mercedes-Benz G550, Range Rover Sport, Mercedes-AMG GT, Lamborghini Huracan, Rolls Royce, and multiple Range Rovers, all valued in the hundreds of millions of naira. These recoveries highlight the advanced methods used by transnational vehicle theft organizations to evade detection.
Adeniyi noted that criminals are increasingly using fraudulent declarations and containerized shipments to smuggle stolen vehicles into Nigeria, disguised as legitimate cargo. This underscores the need for continued vigilance and sophisticated detection strategies to combat vehicle trafficking effectively.