Adeniyi at DSA 2026: Calls for coordinated crackdown on cross-border crimes
Maureen Aguta
Nigeria’s top customs chief has called for a decisive shift in how nations confront transnational crime, urging a move away from fragmented enforcement to a more unified, intelligence-driven global security architecture.
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, made the call in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he participated as a Special Guest at the 19th Defence Services Asia Exhibition and Conference 2026.
Held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre, the high-profile defence and security gathering attracted more than 1,400 companies and key stakeholders spanning defence technology, homeland security, and electronic warfare. The event was formally opened by Malaysian Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim.
Speaking at the Police–Private Security Dialogue on Cross-Border Crime and Transnational Networks—convened under the Asia Pacific Security Association Malaysia International Security Summit 2026—Adeniyi stressed that the evolving nature of global crime demands unprecedented levels of cooperation among enforcement agencies.
“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 said.
His remarks reflected growing international concern over the convergence of criminal enterprises, where narcotics trafficking, wildlife crime, financial fraud, and terrorism financing increasingly intersect across jurisdictions.
Drawing from operational experience within the Nigeria Customs Service, Adeniyi outlined a three-pronged strategy anchored on technology deployment, institutional collaboration, and sustained capacity building.
He noted that without modern enforcement tools and highly trained personnel, agencies risk falling behind fast-adapting criminal networks.
“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 added.
The customs chief also pointed to frameworks developed by the World Customs Organisation as critical instruments guiding member states in tackling cross-border criminality. According to him, crime patterns originating in one region now have ripple effects globally, reinforcing the urgency for collective action.
Participants at the dialogue—drawn from 14 countries across Asia and the Pacific—identified shared operational challenges, including manpower constraints, obsolete enforcement tools, and the rapid advancement of technology-enabled crime. There was broad consensus that criminals are becoming more organised and digitally sophisticated, outpacing traditional enforcement models.
Stakeholders consequently called for deeper intelligence sharing, stronger community engagement, and closer collaboration with global policing institutions such as INTERPOL. Building trust across borders, they noted, will be key to dismantling increasingly networked criminal syndicates.
On the sidelines of the summit, Adeniyi held a series of bilateral meetings with customs administrations from the Asia-Pacific and the Americas, aimed at strengthening operational ties and expanding knowledge exchange.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deeper engagement with international security networks across Asia, Europe, and the Americas, stressing that such partnerships are vital to safeguarding borders, protecting national economic interests, and preserving the integrity of the global trading system.
With global crime becoming more complex and interconnected, Adeniyi’s message from Kuala Lumpur was clear: no nation can afford to act alone.