Police uncover fake diplomatic number plate syndicate

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has recovered vandalised public infrastructure worth millions of naira and dismantled a criminal network involved in the illegal production and use of fake diplomatic and official government number plates.

Ahmed Sanusi, Commissioner of Police, disclosed this on Friday during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Abuja, describing the operations as part of the command’s intensified campaign against economic sabotage and organised crime in the Federal Capital Territory.

Sanusi said the recovered public infrastructure included drainage covers, solar-powered street lights, armoured electricity cables and internet communication cables stolen from various parts of Abuja.

He explained that the recoveries followed intelligence-led operations and sustained anti-crime patrols carried out across Maitama, Garki, Durumi, Jabi, Apo Legislative Quarters, Lugbe and Nyanya.

According to him, five suspects were arrested in connection with the vandalism and theft of the public assets. They were identified as Godwin Aja, Mustapha Nasiru, Ibrahim Garba, Abdulrasheed Sale and Dabarani Mujitafa.

The police commissioner described the destruction and theft of critical public infrastructure as a form of economic sabotage that poses serious dangers to residents and undermines government investments.

He noted that the activities of vandals have contributed significantly to road accidents, insecurity and disruptions to essential services across the territory.

“The removal of drainage covers, solar street lights, armoured cables used for the transmission of high-voltage electricity and internet communication cables worth millions of naira by a few unscrupulous individuals for personal gain has directly contributed to road traffic accidents, injuries to pedestrians, increased incidents of street crime in areas plunged into darkness and the disruption of electricity supply to entire communities through the theft of high-tension power cables,” Sanusi said.

He warned that the command’s investigations had gone beyond the arrested suspects and were now focused on dismantling the wider criminal network, particularly scrap dealers and other buyers who create a ready market for stolen government property.

“I want to use this opportunity to send a clear warning to all purchasers, receivers and dealers in stolen public infrastructure that the FCT Police Command is coming after you.

“We have commenced extensive investigations and will not relent until every link in the supply, distribution and disposal chain of these stolen public assets is identified and brought to justice,” he said.

Sanusi added that all recovered public infrastructure would be handed over to the Federal Capital Territory Administration for immediate reinstallation to restore damaged facilities and prevent further accidents and security risks.

The police commissioner also announced the discovery of a sophisticated network responsible for the illegal production, supply and use of fake diplomatic and official government number plates allegedly used by criminals to evade security checks and gain unrestricted access to government institutions and restricted locations.

He said investigations into the syndicate began shortly after he assumed office as Commissioner of Police following intelligence reports indicating a growing proliferation of diplomatic and official government registration plates in the hands of unauthorised individuals.

“Upon my assumption of duty as the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, my attention was drawn to the proliferation and unauthorised use of diplomatic and official government licence plate numbers by unauthorised individuals.

“I immediately ordered a comprehensive investigation into this disturbing trend, which revealed that these individuals use such plate numbers as a cover to perpetrate crimes within the Federal Capital Territory and evade detection and arrest,” he said.

According to him, investigators successfully identified not only the individuals using the fake plates but also uncovered the production and distribution chain responsible for circulating them.

He disclosed that several fake diplomatic and government number plates had already been recovered, while suspects found in possession of the illegal plates had been arrested and remained in police custody pending the conclusion of investigations.

“The suspects from whom these plate numbers were recovered are currently in custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigation,” he said.

Sanusi, however, declined to publicly parade the suspects, explaining that doing so could compromise ongoing operations aimed at apprehending the manufacturers of the fake number plates.

He revealed that investigations had established that the manufacturers were operating outside the Federal Capital Territory but had already been identified by security operatives.

“We are on their trail. We’ve gotten their identities. That’s why we are not displaying our suspects regarding this so that they will not know that we are coming after them,” he stated.

The police commissioner further disclosed that investigations showed buyers paid between N500,000 and N1.7 million to procure the fake diplomatic and official government number plates.

According to him, the significant amounts paid by buyers suggested that the plates were intended for serious criminal purposes.

“Some of these things range between N500,000 and N1.7 million for them to procure.

‘This will tell you that they are making such huge expenditure because they have an agenda to fulfil with it, which they feel is bigger than the cost they are incurring.

“Now they will face punishment that is bigger than both the cost they incur and the agenda they are planning to use it to perpetrate,” he said.

Sanusi appealed to residents, journalists and other stakeholders to assist the police by reporting suspicious vehicles bearing diplomatic registration numbers, stressing that authentic diplomatic number plates follow a recognised format that can easily be verified.

He said criminals exploit the prestige associated with diplomatic and official number plates to bypass security checkpoints and gain unrestricted access into ministries, departments and agencies.

“They use these fake numbers to beat security checkpoints. They use them to go into ministries and parastatals unstopped because everybody feels once you are a diplomat or have these plates, you are a big man. Help us identify them. Raise an alarm and we will arrest them,” he said.