Customs recover stolen Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce smuggled to Lagos
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has successfully recovered seven high-end luxury vehicles including a Lamborghini at the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos, following reports that the fleet was stolen from Canada.
According to internal documents dated May 5, 2026, the intercepted shipment contained a diverse range of premium automobiles, including a 2021 Rolls-Royce Dawn Convertible, a 2019 Lamborghini Huracán, and a 2018 Lamborghini Aventador.
Other vehicles seized during the operation included a 2023 Land Rover Range Rover, a 2019 Mercedes-Benz G550, a 2019 Lexus RX350 and a 2026 Toyota Tundra.
The NCS confirmed that the vehicles had been flagged as stolen property in Canada before being illegally exported to Nigeria via international maritime routes.
In a statement released Sunday, May 10, the agency noted that this operation is a cornerstone of its strategy to bolster international cooperation against transnational organized crime and vehicle theft syndicates.
The Customs Area Controller for the Tin Can Island Command, Frank Onyeka, detailed the operation during the official handover of the vehicles to the Canadian Deputy High Commissioner.
He noted that the recovery was the direct result of robust intelligence sharing between the NCS and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
The investigation intensified when Canadian authorities alerted Nigerian officials to several stolen vehicles suspected of entering the country through shipping channels. Specifically, intelligence pointed toward a container holding a Toyota Tacoma that was being used to conceal other high-value assets.
Upon receiving the alert, Customs officers isolated the suspicious consignment and placed it under strict enforcement custody. To maintain the integrity of the diplomatic process, the NCS refused to release the vehicles to third-party intermediaries, insisting on a direct handover to Canadian government representatives.
“We had individuals attempting to intervene on behalf of others, but the sensitivity of this case required total transparency. We insisted the handover be conducted directly with the Canadian government,” Onyeka stated.
This successful recovery highlights the increasing efficiency of cargo profiling and maritime enforcement within the Nigeria Customs Service. It also marks a significant milestone in the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Canada regarding the crackdown on cross-border illicit trade.
The agency reiterated its commitment to ensuring that Nigerian ports are not used as safe havens for global criminal syndicates exploiting international trade routes for fraudulent transactions.