By Wellington Jopelo
Nigerian authorities have uncovered what appears to be a major international vehicle smuggling network after Customs officials intercepted several stolen luxury cars shipped from Canada into the country.
The vehicles, which included high-end brands like Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, and Range Rover, were traced to Canada before being illegally moved through international shipping channels into Nigeria.
Officials of the Nigeria Customs Service confirmed that the recovered vehicles were handed over to Canadian authorities during a formal ceremony at Tin Can Island Port in Lagos.
Among the intercepted automobiles were a 2021 Rolls-Royce Dawn Convertible, Lamborghini Huracán, Lamborghini Aventador, Mercedes-Benz G550, Lexus RX350, Range Rover, and a Toyota Tundra.
Customs authorities said the breakthrough followed months of intelligence sharing and joint investigations involving the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Nigerian enforcement agencies.
According to officials, some of the stolen vehicles were hidden among regular shipments and falsely documented in attempts to avoid detection at Nigerian ports.
The operation has once again exposed Nigeria’s growing role as a transit and destination point for organised international vehicle theft syndicates operating across multiple continents.
Customs officers revealed that one of the recovered vehicles had already been mixed with other imported cars before intelligence reports from Canada triggered immediate intervention.
Authorities also disclosed that pressure was mounted by individuals allegedly trying to interfere with the recovery process, but officials insisted the vehicles would only be released directly to Canadian representatives.
Security analysts say the interception highlights stronger cooperation between Nigerian authorities and foreign agencies in tracking cross-border organised crime involving luxury assets.
As investigations continue, attention is now focused on identifying the local receivers and wider international network behind the smuggling operation.