The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has received high praise from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) for its tireless efforts in securing borders and combating transnational crime. This recognition comes after the RCMP Liaison Office recently recovered 12 luxury vehicles in Lagos, adding to the 53 earlier recoveries, bringing the total number of intercepted stolen Canadian vehicles in Nigeria to 65.
According to Asst. Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, the recoveries resulted from strong collaboration among the NCS, RCMP, Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA), EFCC, NDLEA, and Interpol Nigeria. The commendation was formally presented during a ceremony at the Canadian High Commission in Abuja, where Amb. Pasquale Salvaggio, Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, presented an Award of Recognition to Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
Amb. Salvaggio praised Adeniyi’s leadership and the NCS’s vital role in combating cross-border crime, citing the interception of luxury vehicles worth millions of dollars and the seizure of synthetic cannabis smuggled from Canada into Nigeria. “With NCS support, and collaboration with Canadian and Nigerian agencies, we’ve disrupted criminal networks and protected our borders,” Mr. Salvaggio said.
In response, Adeniyi expressed gratitude to the Canadian Government and reaffirmed NCS’s commitment to international cooperation against illicit trade. He highlighted the NCS’s valuable partnerships with the RCMP, CBSA, EFCC, NDLEA, and Interpol, which have produced significant outcomes. Adeniyi also advocated for formalizing these efforts through a Memorandum of Understanding with the CBSA to enhance enforcement, intelligence sharing, and training.
Liam Price, Director General, RCMP, International Special Services, confirmed that the NCS partnership had bolstered Canada’s global enforcement operations, emphasizing that the alliance remains key in dismantling organized criminal groups operating across borders. The recognition also acknowledged the efforts of leaders of Nigeria’s enforcement agencies, including EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, and NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd).
This recognition solidifies the Nigeria Customs Service’s standing as a dependable partner in global border security, underscoring the impact of sustained inter-agency cooperation in combating illicit trade and transnational organized crime. The collaborative efforts between the NCS, RCMP, and other agencies serve as a model for international cooperation, demonstrating the effectiveness of joint operations in disrupting criminal networks and protecting borders.
