Nigeria, Canada Smash Global Car Theft Ring; Luxury Fleet Recovered

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has dealt a decisive blow to transnational organized crime, intercepting a fleet of stolen luxury vehicles—including a Rolls-Royce and two Lamborghinis—smuggled from Canada into Lagos.

​The high-end cars were officially returned to Canadian authorities during a handover ceremony at the Tin Can Island Port on Monday, May 4, 2026. The operation, described as a “major breakthrough,” was the result of a months-long intelligence-sharing partnership between the NCS and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

​A Multi-Million Dollar Haul

​Internal Customs documents reveal a staggering list of recovered assets. Among the vehicles intercepted were:

ADVERTISEMENT

• ​2021 Rolls-Royce Dawn Convertible
• ​2019 Lamborghini Huracán
• ​2018 Lamborghini Aventador
• ​2026 Toyota Tundra
• ​2023 Land Rover Range Rover
• ​2019 Mercedes-Benz G550
• ​2019 Lexus RX350

​Comptroller Frank Onyeka, the Customs Area Controller for Tin Can Island, disclosed that criminal syndicates attempted to hide the stolen goods using sophisticated methods. In one instance, a Toyota Tacoma was found secretly concealed deep inside a container of legitimate cargo.

​Integrity of the Process

​Despite pressure from third parties attempting to claim the vehicles, Comptroller Onyeka emphasized that the NCS remained firm in its protocol.

​”We had people who wanted to step in on behalf of others, but this was too sensitive,” Onyeka stated. “We insisted the handover must be directly to the Canadian government to preserve the integrity of the process.”

​The vehicles were received by Nasser Salihou, the Deputy High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, who praised the deepening security collaboration between the two nations.

​Strengthening Maritime Borders

​National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, noted in a statement on Sunday that this operation serves as a warning to international syndicates. African ports have historically been targeted by car theft networks due to high demand for luxury “exotics,” but Nigeria is signaling a shift toward more rigorous verification.

​The successful recovery highlights significant upgrades in Nigeria’s cargo profiling and maritime enforcement. By delaying the release of suspicious consignments until diplomatic verification was complete, the NCS successfully prevented these stolen assets from entering the local market.