The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) International Special Services has praised the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) over the recent recovery of 12 luxury vehicles stolen from Canada, bringing the total number of recovered vehicles to 65. This recognition came during an official event held at the Canadian High Commission in Abuja, where both countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening international cooperation against organised crime.
The commendation was revealed in a statement released on Sunday by the National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Chief Superintendent of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada. He said the latest recovery was achieved through the efforts of the RCMP Liaison Office in Lagos in close collaboration with the NCS.
During the event, the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Pasquale Salvaggio, presented an award of recognition to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi. He commended the Customs boss for his leadership and for the agency’s strong role in fighting transnational crime through strategic intelligence and joint operations.
Mr Salvaggio praised the NCS for helping to recover stolen exotic cars worth millions of dollars and intercepting drugs trafficked into Nigeria. He cited specific examples like the seizure of several kilogrammes of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as “loud”, smuggled into Nigeria from Canada through different airports, ports, and unapproved routes.
He said, “Through the support of the Nigeria Customs Service, in collaboration with Canadian and Nigerian law enforcement agencies, we have disrupted key international crime networks and safeguarded the integrity of our borders.”
The success, according to Maiwada, was made possible through the combined efforts of the NCS, the RCMP, Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA), Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and Interpol Nigeria.
In his remarks, Comptroller-General Adeniyi expressed gratitude to the Government of Canada and described the recognition as a result of the fruitful cooperation between Nigeria and international partners. He noted that Nigeria Customs remains committed to sustaining these kinds of operations.
“This recognition reflects the success of our collaborative approach. We value our strong relationships with the RCMP, CBSA, EFCC, NDLEA, and Interpol. Together, we have delivered tangible results that benefit both our countries and global trade,” Adeniyi said.
He also called for formalising the existing partnership with Canada through a memorandum of understanding (MoU), which would allow for long-term collaboration on enforcement, intelligence sharing, and capacity-building. Adeniyi stressed that deeper engagements between customs agencies across continents have become more necessary, especially since both Nigeria and Canada are active members of the World Customs Organisation (WCO).
Also speaking at the event, Mr Liam Price, the Director-General of International Special Services of the RCMP, said the partnership with Nigeria Customs has been instrumental in fighting global crime. He noted that the working relationship with NCS has strengthened Canada’s ability to combat organised criminal networks internationally.
The recovery of these 65 stolen vehicles, which had been illegally shipped to Nigeria, is seen as a major breakthrough in a global network of stolen vehicle trafficking. Many of the vehicles, including luxury brands, were traced to Canada using international databases and intelligence from law enforcement agencies.
This development comes as the NCS continues to record successes in revenue generation and law enforcement. Earlier reports confirmed that the service generated ₦1.3 trillion in the first quarter of 2025, partly attributed to reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration and improved systems for monitoring imports and exports.
The Nigerian government has in recent years increased efforts to modernise customs operations and deepen cooperation with foreign agencies. The latest recognition by Canada highlights Nigeria’s role in international security and trade protection.
