The Government of Canada has commended the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for its role in the recovery of 65 stolen vehicles traced to Canada and intercepted in Nigeria.

The recognition follows the recent recovery of 12 additional luxury vehicles by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Liaison Office in Lagos, adding to an earlier batch of 53 vehicles.

In a statement issued on Sunday by NCS spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada, the feat was described as a product of sustained collaboration between the NCS, the RCMP, the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and Interpol Nigeria.

The commendation was formally presented during a ceremony held on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at the Canadian High Commission in Abuja.

At the event, the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pasquale Salvaggio, awarded formal recognition to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for the Service’s role in tackling transnational organised crime.

“Through the support of the Nigeria Customs Service, in collaboration with Canadian and Nigerian law enforcement agencies, we have disrupted key international crime networks and safeguarded the integrity of our borders,” Salvaggio said in his remarks.

He also referenced the seizure of various exotic vehicles valued in millions of dollars and the interception of multiple shipments of synthetic cannabis smuggled from Canada into Nigeria via several entry points.

Responding to the recognition, CGC Adeniyi thanked the Canadian Government and reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service to cross-border cooperation.

“This recognition reflects the success of our collaborative approach. We value our strong relationships with the RCMP, CBSA, EFCC, NDLEA, and Interpol. Together, we have delivered tangible results that benefit both our countries and global trade,” Adeniyi said.

He called for the formalisation of existing cooperation through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the NCS and CBSA to support joint enforcement operations, intelligence sharing, and capacity building.

Highlighting the cross-border nature of modern criminal operations, Adeniyi noted the importance of closer ties between Customs services globally.

He pointed out that both Nigeria and Canada are active members of the World Customs Organisation and should leverage that platform to deepen bilateral enforcement frameworks.

Also in attendance at the event was Liam Price, Director General of International Special Services at the RCMP, who acknowledged that the partnership with Nigeria Customs had strengthened Canada’s global enforcement operations.

Others recognised for their roles in the collaboration included the Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede; the Chairman of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (rtd), represented by Barrister Shadrac Haruna; and the Inspector General of Police, Dr. Kayode Egbetokun, represented by AIG Olaolu Adegbite of Interpol Nigeria.