The Nigeria Customs Service has warned that rapidly evolving international crime syndicates are now outpacing governments, calling for an urgent global alliance to counter increasingly coordinated threats. Speaking at the Defence Services Asia Exhibition and Conference 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi said fragmented national responses were no longer fit for purpose in tackling borderless crime.
Addressing security leaders from 14 countries, Adeniyi described a shifting landscape in which drug trafficking, wildlife smuggling, financial fraud and terrorism financing operate as interconnected global systems rather than isolated crimes. “Criminal networks are evolving faster than enforcement models,” he said, urging intelligence-led cooperation, joint operations and deeper international partnerships.
According to a statement by Customs spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada, the summit, held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre and opened by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, drew more than 1,400 exhibitors and key players in defence technology, electronic warfare and homeland security.
Delegates at a high-level session under the Asia Pacific Security Association Malaysia International Security Summit 2026 warned that enforcement agencies are struggling to keep pace, hampered by outdated tools, limited manpower and the rapid rise of technology-driven crime.
Drawing on Nigeria’s experience, Adeniyi outlined a three-pronged approach centred on advanced technology, institutional collaboration and continuous capacity building, stressing the need for modern systems and highly skilled personnel. He also pointed to frameworks developed by the World Customs Organization as critical to aligning global responses, warning that criminal activity in one region can quickly spill across borders.
Participants broadly agreed on the need for closer coordination between governments, private security firms and international bodies such as INTERPOL. On the sidelines, Adeniyi held talks with counterparts from Asia-Pacific and the Americas, underscoring Nigeria’s push to strengthen its role in global security networks, with a clear message that only a united international response can keep pace with the growing sophistication of organised crime.