The Nigeria Customs Service has formally handed over multiple stolen luxury vehicles recovered in Nigeria to Canadian authorities after intercepting them at Tin Can Island Port in Lagos.
The operation, described by officials as a significant breakthrough in the fight against international vehicle theft and cross-border smuggling, led to the recovery of several high-value automobiles traced back to theft cases in Canada.
Among the intercepted vehicles were premium brands including Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce, Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover, Lexus, and Toyota. The recovered vehicles were officially handed over during a ceremony held on May 4, 2026, at Tin Can Island Port.
Representing the Canadian government, Deputy High Commissioner Nasser Salihou received the vehicles from Customs Area Controller of the Tin Can Island Command, Frank Onyeka.
According to a statement released by the National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Abdullahi Maiwada, the successful operation followed months of intelligence collaboration between Nigerian authorities and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Investigations reportedly revealed that the vehicles had been stolen in Canada before being moved through international shipping routes and eventually traced to Nigeria.
Customs documents indicated that the intercepted automobiles included a 2019 Lexus RX350, a 2019 Mercedes-Benz G550, a 2023 Range Rover, a 2019 Lamborghini Huracán, a 2021 Rolls-Royce Dawn Convertible, a 2018 Lamborghini Aventador, and a 2026 Toyota Tundra.
Officials confirmed that all the vehicles were stolen abroad before being smuggled into the country. Speaking during the handover ceremony, Onyeka disclosed that one of the vehicles, a Toyota Tacoma, had been secretly hidden inside a shipping container carrying other vehicles.
He explained that Customs officers intercepted the suspicious shipment before it left official custody after receiving intelligence alerts and shipping documentation from Canadian authorities.
According to Onyeka, the Nigeria Customs Service intentionally held the vehicles pending the physical arrival of Canadian officials for proper verification and formal recovery. He described the operation as evidence of Nigeria’s growing ability to detect and disrupt international criminal syndicates involved in stolen vehicle trafficking.
The Customs boss also warned that transnational crime groups are increasingly exploiting global shipping systems to move stolen luxury vehicles across continents while disguising them as legitimate cargo.
He noted that the successful interception highlights the importance of stronger cargo profiling, intelligence gathering, and maritime enforcement at Nigerian ports.
The operation further reflects growing security cooperation between Nigeria and Canada in tackling organised cross-border crimes. The development comes at a time when global authorities are increasingly concerned about sophisticated vehicle theft networks targeting international shipping routes to move stolen exotic cars into emerging markets.
Security analysts have noted that African ports have increasingly attracted the attention of vehicle trafficking syndicates due to strong market demand for luxury automobiles and gaps in verification processes across some jurisdictions.
However, Nigerian officials say recent investments in cargo intelligence systems, customs surveillance, and international information sharing are improving the country’s ability to detect suspicious shipments.
As one of Nigeria’s busiest ports for imported vehicles and container traffic, Tin Can Island Port remains a strategic location in the country’s anti-smuggling and trade enforcement operations.
The latest recovery reinforces Nigeria’s growing role in international efforts to disrupt organised crime networks involved in luxury vehicle theft and illicit shipping activities.
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