The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has lamented that smugglers have been using fake presidential number plates to deliver vehicles across the country.

The Customs said the smugglers have also been using such fake number plates belonging to various state and local governments, Ministries, Departments Agencies (MDAs), Emirate Councils, and other governmental institutions.

The Comptroller of NCS, Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone B, Kaduna, Chedi Wada, disclosed this in Kaduna on Wednesday.

Wada said: “Customs will not relent; we will continue to do our best by not allowing smugglers to use the old tactics of using the presidential number plates and other governmental institutions to smuggle luxurious vehicles into the country.

“This is one of the menaces we are having. It is saddening how vehicle smugglers are ridiculing the apex seat in the country by using presidential fake plate numbers using them on newly smuggled cars to deceive customs.

“Customs are well-trained personnel and can easily identify fake numbers and cannot be played by the old tricks.

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“We are not happy with them; it is too bad for them to be playing with the presidency, that’s why we always put a heavy hammer on those using the presidency on false instances on smuggled vehicles.

“Let them respect the presidency; we must respect the presidency that is leadership.”

Wada added that the Customs officers impounded lots of vehicles with fake number plates, including those of local governments, ministries, and government institutions.

He said that the Service was saddled with the responsibility of suppressing anti-smuggling activities, revenue, and trade facilitation while implementing other governmental policies.

The Comptroller said Customs was committed to saving Nigeria’s economy by bringing smugglers down to the ground by suppressing their activities.

Wada said the media have been assisting them in extending what they were doing to the public, decrying “many people do not understand how the rules of the customs are and why certain actions are taken”.

He added: “Some will say customs will come to their houses to take contraband, but all this will be amplified through the media on what the rules and regulations are.

“According to the Act of Customs, on getting an intelligence, Customs can enter the premises and take contraband away, possibly arrest and prosecute.

“People expect Customs to notify them of any planned seizure at their houses or shops or arrest.

“If I inform you that I am coming, what stops you from taking away the exhibit.”

The Star