The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has strengthened global security cooperation, as Comptroller-General Bashir Adeniyi participated in the 19th Defence Services Asia Exhibition and Conference (DSA 2026) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The event, held Tuesday at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), brought together more than 1,400 companies and key stakeholders in defence technology, electronic warfare and homeland security. Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, declared the conference open.
Speaking as a special guest at the Police–Private Security Dialogue on Cross-Border Crime and Transnational Networks, Adeniyi called for stronger international coordination to tackle evolving threats.
“The nature of crime has evolved beyond borders, requiring enforcement agencies to move from isolated responses to coordinated global action,” he said. “Collaboration is no longer optional; it is the foundation of effective security.”
The session, held under the Asia Pacific Security Association Malaysia International Security Summit (AMISST) 2026, brought together security leaders from 14 countries.
Adeniyi warned that transnational crimes, including narcotics trafficking, wildlife crime, financial fraud and terrorism financing are increasingly interconnected. He said enforcement strategies must reflect this shift through intelligence sharing and joint operations.
Drawing from NCS operations, he outlined a three-pillar approach: technology adoption, institutional collaboration and capacity building.
“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.
He also referenced frameworks by the World Customs Organization, noting they provide critical guidance for tackling cross-border crime and underscore the global impact of criminal networks.
Participants cited key challenges, including limited manpower, outdated tools and the rapid rise of technology-driven crime. They agreed that criminals are becoming more coordinated, requiring deeper collaboration among governments, international organisations and private security actors.
Stakeholders called for improved intelligence gathering, stronger community engagement, and sustained partnerships with global agencies such as INTERPOL.
On the sidelines, Adeniyi held bilateral talks with customs administrations from the Asia-Pacific and the Americas to boost operational cooperation and knowledge sharing.
He reaffirmed the NCS commitment to international partnerships, saying they are vital to securing borders, protecting economic interests and safeguarding the global trading system.
