The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) announced on Monday that they successfully intercepted over 100 luxury vehicles, including a variety of Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs), with 38 of them being forfeited to the Federal Government.

The NCS urged all stakeholders to collaborate with customs officers and personnel to effectively combat the issue of vehicle smuggling into Nigeria.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Jack Okpabi, the Deputy Comptroller of Customs and Coordinator of the Rapid Response Squad Headquarters, provided updates on the quarterly achievements of his team. He highlighted the recent operation that led to the interception of more than 100 vehicles, including Toyota Hilux, Toyota Land Cruiser, and other high-end models. This operation prevented a substantial loss of revenue for the country.

Okpabi emphasized, “You can see that we have over 100 vehicles, and 38 have been forfeited to the Federal Government. The operation will result in the recovery of over N400m through demand notices.”

Expressing concern over the determination of individuals to smuggle vehicles into Nigeria, the customs officer questioned the reasons behind the patronage of smugglers. He firmly stated that the service would take strong action against anyone caught smuggling vehicles into the country.

The NCS remains committed to curbing vehicle smuggling and preserving the integrity of Nigeria’s customs laws.