The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), in collaboration with INTERPOL, successfully recovered and repatriated two high-end Toyota vehicles stolen from the Netherlands—a 2020 Toyota C-HR and a 2019 Toyota RAV4. The announcement, made on October 20, 2025, highlights the effectiveness of international policing networks and the challenges facing Nigeria’s used vehicle import sector.
The stolen vehicles were taken from Amsterdam and Midden-Nederland before being smuggled through Belgium’s Port of Antwerp and shipped to Lagos, Nigeria, in late 2023. These routes demonstrate how organised theft rings exploit legitimate trade corridors to move stolen assets into emerging markets. The Port of Antwerp, one of Europe’s busiest, often features in such criminal logistics. Once the cars arrived in Nigeria, they were moved to Lagos and Akwa Ibom states. Through intelligence sharing between INTERPOL’s National Central Bureaus (NCB) in Abuja and The Hague, the vehicles were eventually located and seized. This successful recovery underscores the growing importance of intelligence-led and cross-border policing.
Following their recovery, the NPF pursued civil forfeiture proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja to establish legal ownership and enable repatriation. The court granted a forfeiture order, allowing the vehicles to be returned to the Netherlands through their respective insurance company. The official handover ceremony took place on October 20, 2025, attended by representatives from the Dutch Embassy and insurers. Although no arrests were publicly confirmed, the operation effectively disrupted a wider criminal network involved in transnational vehicle trafficking.
Inspector-General of Police Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun commended the professionalism of INTERPOL operatives and the cooperation between Nigerian and Dutch authorities. He noted that the success reflected Nigeria’s strong commitment to global law enforcement partnerships and to denying criminals the profits of their crimes. Force Public Relations Officer CSP Benjamin Hundeyin echoed this, emphasising that such joint operations strengthen Nigeria’s reputation in international policing.
Key details from the operation include:
- The 2020 Toyota C-HR was stolen from Amsterdam, smuggled through the Port of Antwerp to Apapa in Lagos, and later recovered in Lagos State before repatriation.
- The 2019 Toyota RAV4 was stolen from Midden-Nederland, moved through the same Antwerp–Apapa route, and eventually traced to Akwa Ibom State, from where it was also repatriated.
Nigeria’s used vehicle import market, while vibrant, remains vulnerable to smuggled or stolen vehicles entering through major ports like Apapa. This case highlights the need for stricter verification protocols. Buyers are advised to conduct Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) checks and verify details with INTERPOL or the Nigeria Customs Service before completing purchases. Enhanced port inspections and better intelligence sharing across agencies could further reduce risks. Similar recoveries in past years—such as those of stolen luxury cars from Canada—show this is a recurring challenge demanding sustained vigilance.
The recovery of these vehicles stands as proof of what effective international collaboration can achieve. It restores confidence in Nigeria’s capacity to combat global criminal networks and aligns the country with international standards in asset recovery. By prioritising due diligence and strengthening cooperation with INTERPOL, Nigeria can further protect its market and citizens from the impact of transnational crime.
