The Royal Canadian Mounted Police International Special Services has praised the Nigeria Customs Service for recovering 12 luxury vehicles recently through the RCMP Liaison Office in Lagos, adding to 53 vehicles recovered earlier.

The RCMP also commended the NCS for its strong commitment to border security and disrupting transnational organized crime through strategic partnerships and intelligence-driven operations.

The commendation was conveyed in a statement released on Sunday and signed by the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada.

Maiwada noted that the commendations were officially presented during a ceremony at the Canadian High Commission in Abuja.

He stated that during the event, the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pasquale Salvaggio, presented an award of recognition to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, honoring his leadership and the crucial role of the service in combating cross-border crimes.

Meanwhile, the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pasquale Salvaggio, praised Adeniyi for his ongoing efforts to dismantle the activities of international crime syndicates.

Salvaggio highlighted specific cases, including the interception of various exotic vehicles worth millions of dollars, “as well as the seizure of several kilogrammes of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as ‘loud’, smuggled from Canada into Nigeria through multiple ports, airports and other unapproved routes.”

“Through the support of the NCS, in collaboration with Canadian and Nigerian law enforcement agencies, we have disrupted key international crime networks and safeguarded the integrity of our borders,” Salvaggio stated.

Responding, Adeniyi expressed gratitude to the Government of Canada and reaffirmed the Service’s dedication to enhancing international cooperation in the fight against illicit trade.

He also called for formalizing the expanding partnership through a memorandum of understanding between the NCS and the Canadian Border Services Agency to institutionalize cooperation in enforcement, intelligence sharing, and training.

Adeniyi stressed that closer collaboration between customs administrations across continents is essential, particularly since both Nigeria and Canada are active members of the World Customs Organisation.