Canada Commends Nigeria Customs for Recovery of 65 Stolen Vehicles

The Government of Canada has commended the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for its role in recovering 65 stolen vehicles traced to Canada and intercepted in Nigeria.

The recognition followed the recent recovery of 12 luxury vehicles by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Liaison Office in Lagos, adding to a previously recovered batch of 53 vehicles.

In a statement on Sunday, NCS spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada highlighted the success as a result of joint efforts involving the NCS, RCMP, Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and Interpol Nigeria.

A formal commendation ceremony was held on May 21 at the Canadian High Commission in Abuja, where Canadian High Commissioner Pasquale Salvaggio awarded a certificate of recognition to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.

“Through the support of the Nigeria Customs Service and partner agencies, we have disrupted key international crime networks and protected the integrity of our borders,” Salvaggio stated.

He also referenced the seizure of several exotic vehicles worth millions of dollars and the interception of synthetic cannabis smuggled into Nigeria.

In response, CGC Adeniyi reaffirmed NCS’s commitment to international cooperation and called for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the NCS and CBSA to strengthen joint enforcement, intelligence sharing, and capacity building.

“Effective collaboration remains the key to tackling transnational crime,” Adeniyi said, emphasizing the importance of partnerships through global platforms such as the World Customs Organisation.

Also present at the event were Liam Price, Director General of International Special Services at the RCMP, and representatives of other collaborating agencies, including EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, NDLEA Chairman Buba Marwa (rtd), and Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, represented by AIG Olaolu Adegbite of Interpol Nigeria.

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