The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Wale Adeniyi , has officially transferred 21 luxury vehicles valued at over ₦8.1 billion to the Canadian government. Adeniyi noted that INTERPOL has recognized certain West African nations as key locations for exotic cars that have been stolen from Canada, the United States, and Europe.
Naija News reports that the luxury vehicle collections include brands such as Rolls Royce, Lamborghini Huracán, Mercedes-AMG, and Range Rover. Adeniyi explained that members of the criminal syndicate had stolen these vehicles from abroad and subsequently imported them into Nigeria using forged documentation. He added that law enforcement officers have successfully recovered approximately 21 luxury cars from this criminal organization through the newly established Operation Hot Wheel.
Operation Hot Wheel is a collaborative effort involving personnel from the Nigeria Customs Service, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Canadian government. Adeniyi emphasized that the recovery of all 21 vehicles was made possible through the cooperation of the Canadian government and the EFCC. In his remarks at the official handover ceremony, the CGC affirmed that the Nigeria Customs Service has intensified its efforts to combat vehicle trafficking syndicates operating within the nation’s borders.
“According to INTERPOL reports, West Africa has emerged as a notable destination hub in the global stolen vehicle trade network, w.