A Hummer Bus bearing a Delta State Government plate number, A28-02DT, has been intercepted by operatives of the Delta State Police Command for allegedly conveying a large cache of controlled drugs, including codeine and tramadol, concealed under the guise of an official vehicle.
The interception, which occurred at the Tollgate area of Asaba, has reignited public debate over the abuse of tinted vehicles and covered plate numbers in the state.
According to the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, the vehicle was flagged down after officers observed that both its plate number and windows were completely covered, arousing suspicion.
“The vehicle, a darkly tinted Hummer Bus with its number plate completely concealed, refused to stop when flagged down at the Tollgate. Our men pursued and eventually intercepted it at Mami Market,” Edafe disclosed.
Upon inspection, the police uncovered bags filled with controlled substances, including codeine syrup and tramadol tablets, stacked inside the bus.
The driver, identified as Ugochukwu, 46, admitted during interrogation that he was transporting the drugs for unidentified clients.
“I covered the plate number because I didn’t want anybody to know what I was carrying,” the suspect confessed, adding that he had been in the illicit business since last year.
Edafe, who questioned the suspect in a video posted on his verified Facebook page, emphasized that the case underscores why security agencies insist on regulating tinted vehicles and covered license plates.
“This could easily have been a vehicle transporting arms or even heads of human beings. When plate numbers are covered and vehicles are heavily tinted, it becomes impossible to know what’s inside. This case justifies our stand,” the police spokesperson stated.
He further condemned the misuse of government registration numbers for criminal activity, assuring that the matter would be thoroughly investigated to determine how the Delta government plate number was obtained and used for drug trafficking.
The suspect and the seized drugs are currently in custody at the State Command, while investigations continue to trace the syndicate behind the operation.
Authorities have reiterated that tinted and plate-covered vehicles will face stricter scrutiny henceforth, warning motorists that impersonation of government identity for illicit trade will attract severe penalties.
