Customs grants administrative bail to alleged car smuggler with fake NYSC ID

Tayo Oladipupo

The Seme command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it had released a suspected car smuggler arrested on Tuesday using a diplomatic plate number and 2015 fake National Youth Service Corps identification card as a ploy to beat customs officers.

The suspect, Abdul Umar was arrested along the Seme border while trying to smuggle a Renault Megane worth over N500.000.00.

The Public Relations Officer of the command, Saidu Abdullahi told newsmen that the suspect was granted administrative bail on Thursday but added that investigations were still ongoing.

Abdullahi said, “He was released yesterday (Thursday) while we are still investigating to unravel who the real owner the smuggled car is.”

While speaking to journalists on Wednesday, the suspect had said the owner of the vehicle was on his way to the command but Mr Abdullahi said nobody had come forward yet.

“If anybody had come with necessary documents, then the matter would have been resolved. But as I speak with you, we have not seen anybody.”

At the time of his arrest, Mr Umar, an indigene of Kaduna State, was said to be working with some influential Nigerians, adding that he had the mobile number of the Inspector General of Police.

Mohammed Uba, Seme Area Controller of Customs, said when he was arrested, the suspect had a letter containing numbers which stated, “call these numbers, otherwise call the IG.”