Motorists with tinted vehicles in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) risk arrest and prosecution regardless of whether they possess permits, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Ahmed Sanusi, has warned.

The warning comes as the command commenced enforcement of vehicle tint regulations.

The move, the police said, is aimed at curbing crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, drug trafficking and other criminal activities in the nation’s capital.

Speaking in a video shared on X by the command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, Sanusi said the police would no longer distinguish between motorists with tinted permits and those without them during enforcement operations.

“There is a total ban on the usage of tinted vehicles. We’re not looking at whether you have a tinted permit or you don’t have a tinted permit. Whether you have a permit or not, if we get to you with your tinted vehicle, we will arrest you,” he said.

The police commissioner argued that criminals often exploit tinted vehicles to conceal their identities and operations, making it difficult for law enforcement agencies and members of the public to detect criminal activities.

According to him, permit holders would not be exempted from scrutiny, as the command would verify the authenticity of permits and the eligibility of those granted such approvals.

“Even if you show us that you have a permit, we will investigate you whether you even qualify in the first place to have applied for that permit or to even use the tinted vehicle,” Sanusi stated.

He said some criminals could obtain permits and subsequently use them as cover to perpetrate offences.

“We will not allow criminals to hide under the fact that they have obtained tinted permits and then go on committing crimes of kidnapping, transportation of drugs, arms and ammunition,” he added.

Sanusi also addressed claims by motorists who rely on medical grounds to justify the use of tinted vehicles, insisting that such claims must be backed by verifiable evidence.

“It is up to you to prove to us. If you give us your results that recommend that you should use such type of vehicle, we’ll verify from the hospitals that gave that to you. All we want is evidence,” he said.

The CP, however, distinguished factory-fitted tints from heavily darkened aftermarket modifications, noting that many factory-fitted tinted glasses still allow visibility into vehicles.

“You may wish to ask that some vehicles come with factory-fitted tinted glasses. But I will tell you that most factory-fitted vehicles are tinted in such a way that at a glance you will see what is inside, unlike some of the deep tints that are manually installed,” he said.

He maintained that heavily tinted vehicles had featured in numerous criminal cases investigated by the command, including kidnappings and “one-chance” operations.

“People have been carried in tinted vehicles unnoticed. So we said it has to stop. It must stop, and the only way to stop it is to go after all tinted vehicles, not separating those who have permits from those who don’t. We’ll go after all equally,” Sanusi said.

The renewed enforcement follows the command’s sustained campaign against tinted vehicles, covered number plates and unregistered vehicles, which police authorities say are frequently used to aid criminal activities and frustrate investigations.

Residents and motorists have been urged to comply with the regulations or risk sanctions, including arrest, prosecution and impoundment of affected vehicles.(Daily Trust)

Update news