Customs Sounds Alarm: West Africa Now The Global Hub For Stolen Vehicles

Customs Sounds Alarm: West Africa Now The Global Hub For Stolen Vehicles

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has revealed that West Africa has become a central hub in the global trade of stolen vehicles. The network spans continents, linking Europe, North America, South America, and Australia.

Comptroller-General Bashir Adeniyi disclosed this in Lagos during a display of seized vehicles, noting the heightened efforts by Customs to combat vehicle trafficking in recent months…….READ MORE 

“West Africa has been highlighted as a significant destination in the global stolen vehicle network, according to INTERPOL,” Adeniyi said.

He announced the launch of Operation Hot Wheels, a collaborative effort involving the NCS, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and Canadian authorities, designed to disrupt the smuggling of stolen vehicles into Nigeria.

Adeniyi detailed recent seizures, including luxury vehicles such as Mercedes-Benz, Lamborghini, and Rolls Royce, valued in millions of naira, intercepted at key Lagos locations. Intelligence-led operations also uncovered smuggling attempts via shipping containers at ports.

The Customs chief emphasized the far-reaching economic and security implications of these criminal activities, which undermine Nigeria’s legitimate automotive market, strain its security apparatus, and hinder economic reforms.

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