“Nigeria is not a destination for stolen vehicles or a haven for illicit wealth from foreign countries”- President Tinubu says as he orders a crackdown on cyber criminals and car thieves

President Bola Tinubu has ordered security and law enforcement agencies to intensify their crackdown on cybercriminals and transnational car theft rings operating in the country.

He directed agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), to target individuals involved in the possession and trafficking of stolen vehicles.

The President in a statement issued on Sunday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, emphasised that depriving criminals of the proceeds from their illicit activities is a powerful tool in combating organized crime.

He commended the EFCC for returning 53 vehicles and $180,300 to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on behalf of two Canadian victims of cybercrime involving Nigerian nationals.

Expressing concern over transnational crime groups exporting stolen vehicles to Nigeria, President Tinubu lauded the collaboration between Nigerian authorities and international partners in addressing the issue.

He also stressed the importance of preserving seized assets for the benefit of the state, victims, and society in line with legal frameworks and global conventions.

The president reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to combatting cybercrime, money laundering, and other financial crimes, stating that the country would not be a destination for stolen vehicles or illicit wealth.