The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has handed over seven stolen luxury vehicles linked to Canada to the Deputy High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, Nasser Salihou. The handover took place at Tin Can Island Port and was conducted by Frank Onyeka, the Customs Area Controller of the Command. A statement from NCS spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada, made available on Sunday in Abuja, confirmed the recovery of the vehicles following intelligence collaboration with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
The recovered vehicles include 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 a 2026 Toyota Tundra. All were confirmed stolen and illegally shipped into Nigeria. A 2019 Toyota Tacoma was also intercepted after being concealed inside a container with other vehicles.
Onyeka said the alert from Canadian authorities triggered immediate action, leading to the isolation of the consignment before it exited Customs control. The affected vehicle was placed under enforcement custody pending diplomatic verification. He described the operation as shifting from routine cargo inspection to an international criminal investigation.
The NCS delayed final release of the vehicles until Canadian officials arrived in person to complete identification and recovery. Onyeka stated that third parties attempted to intervene, but the handover was restricted to the Canadian government to maintain process integrity. The operation underscores ongoing bilateral cooperation in combating transnational vehicle theft via global shipping routes.
Frank Onyeka insists on direct handover to Canada's deputy high commissioner, yet allowed a 2026 Toyota Tundra—impossible to steal before its manufacture—to be listed as recovered. This raises questions about the verification standards applied to the other vehicles. If one vehicle's details are factually impossible, the credibility of the entire seizure claim comes under scrutiny. Nigerians deserve accurate reporting on operations conducted in their name.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion. All persons mentioned are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Full disclaimer →
