The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has strengthened its international collaboration following its participation in the 19th Defence Services Asia Exhibition and Conference (DSA 2026) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, represented the NCS at the high-level engagement, which took place at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) on Tuesday. The event, which was declared open by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, brought together over 1,400 companies and key stakeholders across defence technology, electronic warfare, and homeland security.
Speaking as a Special Guest at the Police–Private Security Dialogue on Cross-Border Crime and Transnational Networks, CGC Adeniyi emphasised the urgent need for coordinated global responses to emerging security threats. The session, convened under the Asia Pacific Security Association Malaysia International Security Summit (AMISST) 2026, brought together security leaders from 14 countries across Asia and the Pacific.
“The nature of crime has evolved beyond borders, requiring enforcement agencies to move from isolated responses to coordinated global action. Collaboration is no longer optional; it is the foundation of effective security,” he stated.
Adeniyi highlighted the growing sophistication of transnational criminal networks, noting that activities such as narcotics trafficking, wildlife crime, financial fraud, and terrorism financing are increasingly interconnected.
He stressed that enforcement strategies must reflect this reality through intelligence sharing and joint operations, while outlining a three-pillar approach based on Customs’ experience, including technology adoption, institutional collaboration, and capacity building.
According to him, modern enforcement requires advanced tools and skilled personnel capable of responding to emerging crime typologies. “We must invest in technology, strengthen partnerships, and continuously build the capacity of our officers to stay ahead of criminal networks that are constantly evolving,” he said.
Adeniyi also referenced the World Customs Organisation (WCO) frameworks, noting that these instruments provide critical guidance to member administrations in tackling cross-border crime.
He added that criminal patterns originating from different regions have global implications, reinforcing the need for collective international action.
Participants at the dialogue identified common challenges facing enforcement agencies, including limited workforce, outdated tools, and the rapid advancement of technology-enabled crime. There was a shared consensus that criminals are increasingly coordinated, necessitating stronger collaboration among governments, international organisations, and private security stakeholders.
Consequently, stakeholders called for enhanced intelligence gathering, deeper engagement with communities, and sustained partnerships with global agencies such as INTERPOL. The emphasis, they noted, must be on building trust and ensuring seamless cross-border cooperation.
Similarly, the CGC held bilateral engagements with customs administrations from the Asia-Pacific and the Americas to deepen operational partnerships and enhance knowledge exchange.
He reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with international security networks across Asia, Europe, and the Americas, noting that such partnerships are critical to securing borders, protecting national economic interests, and supporting the integrity of the global trading system.
