Transnational car theft: Tinubu orders crackdown, commends EFCC for returning $180,000, 53 vehicles to Canada

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has launched a crackdown on organised crime groups involved in international car thefts. 

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, he directed security agencies—including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)—to intensify efforts against individuals trafficking in stolen vehicles. 

Tinubu emphasised, “Depriving criminals of their illicit gains is a crucial strategy for law enforcement.” 

He commended the EFCC for its recent success in returning 53 vehicles and $180,300 to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), stating, “This action reflects our commitment to international cooperation in fighting crime.”

Expressing concern over the involvement of organised crime in exporting stolen vehicles to Nigeria, he remarked, “We must collaborate with our international partners to effectively address this growing menace.” 

The President instructed anti-corruption agencies to safeguard Nigeria’s economic integrity, asserting, “We cannot allow organised crime to infiltrate our financial systems.” 

He insisted that the value of seized assets should be preserved for the state and victims, aligning with existing laws and international conventions.

 ”Nigeria is not a destination for stolen vehicles or a haven for illicit wealth from abroad,” he noted.

Reiterating his administration’s commitment to tackling money laundering, cybercrime, and other financial crimes, he  affirmed, “We will not relent in our efforts to restore integrity to our nation.”