The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has recorded a significant success in the fight against transnational organized crime with the recovery of two high-end vehicles stolen from the Netherlands and illegally imported into Nigeria.

According to a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the vehicles a Toyota C-HR (2020 model) and a Toyota RAV4 (2019 model) were traced and recovered in a coordinated operation by operatives of the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) in Abuja, in collaboration with their counterparts at INTERPOL NCB The Hague.

Investigations revealed that the vehicles had been stolen from Amsterdam and Midden-Nederland before being shipped to Nigeria through the Port of Antwerp in Belgium, arriving at Apapa Port, Lagos, in late 2023.

The Toyota C-HR was recovered in Lagos, while the RAV4 was found in Akwa Ibom State.

Following their recovery, the Nigeria Police, through INTERPOL NCB Abuja, initiated civil forfeiture proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja. Upon completion of the legal process, the court granted a final forfeiture order in favour of the Government of the Netherlands through the vehicles’ insurance company, paving the way for their lawful repatriation.

On Monday, the INTERPOL team formally handed over the recovered vehicles to representatives of the insurance company and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nigeria, marking the successful conclusion of the cross-border recovery and restitution effort.

Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, commended the INTERPOL NCB Abuja operatives for their professionalism and effective collaboration with international partners.

He noted that the successful operation underscores the Force’s unwavering commitment to global law enforcement