Customs boss warns car buyers: Nigeria now preferred destination for stolen vehicles

Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi

Customs boss warns car buyers: Nigeria now preferred destination for stolen vehicles

The Comptroller General of Customs(CGC), Mr Wale Adeniyi, has lamented that Nigeria has become a preferred destination for internationally stolen vehicles which not only tarnishes Nigeria’s international image but also impacts our economy through substantial revenue losses and increased security spending. The Customs boss said this last Tuesday while handing over 21 exotic cars worth over N1.8 billion to the Canadian Government at the Federal Operation Unit (FOU), in Lagos.

The CGC disclosed that the International Police (INTERPOL) had also identified countries in West Africa as hubs for exotic vehicles stolen from Canada, America and Europe. The CGC revealed that members of the syndicate stole vehicles from foreign countries and subsequently shipped them into Nigeria, using falsified documents. He added the officers were able to recover about 21 exotic cars from the criminal gang, with the aid of the recently established Operations Hot Wheel. Among the exotic vehicles that were handed over include Rolls Royce, Lamborghini Huracan, Mercedes-AMG and Range Rover.

“Operation Hot Wheel consists of officers from the Nigeria Customs Service, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Canadian government,” he said. Adeniyi also revealed that all the 21 vehicles were recovered with the aid of the Canadian Government as well as the EFCC.

“According to INTERPOL reports, West Africa has emerged as a notable destination hub in the global stolen vehicle trade network. This extends from Europe and North America to as far as South America and Australia. This challenge is particularly acute in Nigeria,” he said.

While highlighting data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the CGC said that available data from the bureau showed that between 2013-2015, only 54 per cent of stolen vehicles were recovered.

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He noted that it showed 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. Recent intelligence from international law enforcement agencies further confirms that our region has become a preferred destination for internationally stolen vehicles. This is a trend that not only tarnishes Nigeria’s international image but also impacts our economy through substantial revenue losses and increased security spending,” he said.

He added that the economic implications of this criminal enterprise were far-reaching and deeply concerning.

“Beyond damaging our legitimate automotive trade sector and international business relationships, it undermines President Tinubu’s economic reform agenda that aims to position Nigeria as a trusted hub for international commerce. The Service is forced to divert substantial resources towards enhanced border management and rigorous verification processes – resources that should ideally be channelled toward trade facilitation initiatives and economic growth programmes.

“This criminal activity not only strains our operational capacity but also threatens the government’s efforts to attract foreign investment and establish Nigeria as a reliable partner in global trade,” he said.

He said that the NCS, in response to these challenges, gave rise to the initiation of Operation Hot Wheels.

“This initiative is aimed at disrupting the flow of stolen vehicles into Nigeria through our ports and borders. This is launched as a collaborative effort between the NCS, EFCC and Canadian authorities, which is 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. This multi-agency approach was designed to leverage the unique capabilities and jurisdictional advantages of each participating organization” he stated.