The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said that West Africa has emerged as a notable destination hub in the global stolen vehicles trade network.
The Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, told journalists in Lagos while displaying some seized vehicles that the network extends from Europe and North America to as far as South America and Australia.
He added that in the last few months, the service has intensified its tracking operations against vehicle trafficking syndicates operating within the borders.
“According to INTERPOL reports, West Africa has emerged as a notable destination hub in the global stolen vehicle trade network, which extends from Europe and North America as far as South America and Australia,” he said.
Adeniyi lamented that the challenge is more in Nigeria, adding that data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows that between 2013-2015, only 54 per cent of stolen vehicles were recovered, “highlighting the scale and sophistication of this criminal enterprise.”
He stated that in a bid to address this challenge, the service initiated Operation Hot Wheels which is a targeted enforcement initiative aimed at disrupting the flow of stolen vehicles into Nigeria through the ports and borders.
Adeniyi stressed that the platform was launched as a collaborative effort between the NCS, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and Canadian authorities, “the operation focused on intelligence sharing, coordinated surveillance, and strategic interdiction.”
The report by the Punch newspaper quoted Adeniyi as saying that the growing incidence of stolen vehicles finding their way into the region has become a matter of serious concern, as it not only undermines the region’s legitimate automotive market but also strains the security infrastructure.
He reiterated that recent intelligence from international law enforcement agencies further confirms that, “our region has become a preferred destination for internationally stolen vehicles, a trend that not only tarnishes Nigeria’s international image but also impacts our economy through substantial revenue losses and increased security spending.”
GIK/APA