The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has earned high praise from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) International Special Services for its relentless efforts in safeguarding Nigeria’s borders and dismantling transnational criminal networks through strategic intelligence-sharing and operational collaboration.
This recognition follows a major breakthrough in which 12 luxury vehicles, stolen from Canada, were recovered by the RCMP Liaison Office in Lagos. Combined with 53 earlier recoveries, the total number of intercepted stolen Canadian vehicles in Nigeria now stands at an impressive 65 — a significant blow to international vehicle smuggling rings.
The commendation was officially delivered on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, during a ceremony at the Canadian High Commission in Abuja. His Excellency Pasquale Salvaggio, High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, personally presented an Award of Recognition to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, lauding his leadership and the Nigeria Customs Service’s critical role in the fight against organised cross-border crime.
In his address, Salvaggio spotlighted recent high-profile seizures, including several kilograms of synthetic cannabis — known on the streets as ‘loud’ — smuggled from Canada into Nigeria via ports, airports, and unofficial routes. These successes, he noted, were made possible through seamless collaboration between the NCS, RCMP, Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and Interpol Nigeria.
“Thanks to the dedication of the Nigeria Customs Service and our joint law enforcement partnerships, we’ve disrupted sophisticated criminal networks and reinforced the integrity of both our nations’ borders,” Salvaggio affirmed.
The event not only celebrated operational victories but also underscored the growing strength of international security cooperation between Nigeria and Canada in tackling organised crime, smuggling, and cross-border threats.
Nigeria Customs Chief Calls for Deeper Canada-Nigeria Security Pact as RCMP Honours Anti-Smuggling Success
Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has reaffirmed Nigeria Customs Service’s (NCS) unwavering commitment to international cooperation in the fight against illicit trade, following a commendation from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) for the Service’s pivotal role in disrupting transnational crime.
Speaking during an official recognition ceremony held on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at the Canadian High Commission in Abuja, CGC Adeniyi expressed gratitude to the Government of Canada for the honour, while highlighting the importance of sustained global partnerships in tackling organised criminal networks.
“This recognition reflects the strength and impact of our collaborative approach. We highly value our partnerships with the RCMP, CBSA, EFCC, NDLEA, and Interpol. Together, we’ve achieved results that safeguard not just our borders but the integrity of global trade,” Adeniyi stated.
He used the occasion to advocate for a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Nigeria Customs Service and the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) to institutionalise enforcement cooperation, intelligence exchange, and capacity building — a move he described as critical in an era where crime transcends borders.
“Modern transnational crime demands stronger engagement between Customs administrations across continents, and as active members of the World Customs Organisation, Nigeria and Canada have an opportunity to lead by example,” Adeniyi added.
In his remarks, Mr. Liam Price, Director General of International Special Services at the RCMP, hailed the partnership with Nigeria Customs as instrumental in strengthening Canada’s international enforcement operations, noting that the joint efforts have disrupted key organised crime networks targeting both countries.
The event also honoured leaders of Nigeria’s frontline enforcement agencies, including EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede; NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (rtd) — represented by Barrister Shadrac Haruna; and Inspector General of Police, Dr. Kayode Egbetokun, represented by AIG Olaolu Adegbite of Interpol Nigeria.
In conclusion however, the recognition marks another milestone in Nigeria Customs Service’s growing reputation as a trusted ally in global border security, and a testament to the power of inter-agency synergy in combating smuggling and transnational crime.
