The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has honoured the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for its outstanding contributions to cross-border crime prevention, particularly in disrupting transnational vehicle theft and narcotics trafficking rings.
The commendation was delivered during a formal ceremony held on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at the Canadian High Commission in Abuja. At the event, the High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, His Excellency Pasquale Salvaggio, presented an Award of Recognition to the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, in appreciation of his leadership and the Service’s dedication to international security collaboration.
The recognition followed the recent recovery of 12 luxury vehicles by the RCMP Liaison Office in Lagos, adding to 53 others earlier intercepted bringing the total number of stolen Canadian vehicles recovered in Nigeria to 65. These successes were achieved through coordinated operations involving the NCS, RCMP, the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and Interpol Nigeria.
In his citation, High Commissioner Salvaggio commended CGC Adeniyi for his unwavering commitment to border integrity and international law enforcement cooperation. He noted that the Nigeria Customs Service played a pivotal role in the seizure of several kilograms of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as loud, trafficked from Canada into Nigeria through various ports, airports, and unauthorised routes.
“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.
Responding, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi expressed gratitude to the Canadian government and reaffirmed the NCS’s readiness to strengthen global partnerships in the fight against transnational organised crime.
“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,” the CGC remarked.
He further proposed the formalisation of ongoing collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Nigeria Customs Service and the Canadian Border Services Agency to institutionalise cooperation in enforcement, intelligence sharing, and training.
CGC Adeniyi emphasised that as both Nigeria and Canada are active members of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), enhanced inter-agency cooperation is crucial to addressing the increasingly global nature of organised crime.
Representing the RCMP at the event, Mr. Liam Price, Director General of International Special Services, highlighted the significance of the partnership with Nigeria Customs, stating that it had greatly reinforced Canada’s international enforcement capabilities.
Also honoured at the ceremony were key Nigerian law enforcement leaders, including Mr. Ola Olukoyede, Chairman of the EFCC; Brigadier General Buba Marwa (rtd), Chairman/CEO of the NDLEA (represented by Barr. Shadrac Haruna); and the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Egbetokun, who was represented by AIG Olaolu Adegbite of Interpol Nigeria.
The event underscored the growing reputation of the Nigeria Customs Service as a dependable force in global border security and a critical player in joint efforts to combat illicit trade, vehicle smuggling, and drug trafficking.
