Kidnapping, One-Chance: Why FCT Police Are Cracking Down on Tinted Vehicles

Motorists driving tinted vehicles in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been warned that possession of a tinted-glass permit will no longer guarantee protection from police scrutiny or arrest.

The warning was issued by the Commissioner of Police for the FCT, Ahmed Sanusi, as the command intensified enforcement measures aimed at curbing criminal activities, including kidnapping, armed robbery, drug trafficking and the notorious “one-chance” operations across Abuja.

Speaking in a video shared by the FCT Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, Sanusi said all tinted vehicles would be subject to inspection, regardless of whether their owners possess permits.

“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,” the commissioner stated.

According to Sanusi, criminals often take advantage of heavily tinted vehicles to conceal their identities and activities, making it more difficult for law enforcement agencies and members of the public to identify suspicious behaviour.

He stressed that even motorists who present valid permits would undergo further verification to determine whether the permits were legitimately obtained and whether they met the criteria required for approval.

“Even if you show us that you have a permit, we will investigate you to determine whether you qualified in the first place to apply for that permit,” he said.

The police chief also rejected the notion that medical conditions automatically justify the use of heavily tinted vehicles, noting that such claims must be supported by verifiable documentation from recognised medical institutions.

However, Sanusi clarified that there is a distinction between factory-fitted tinted windows and aftermarket modifications. He explained that many factory-installed tints still allow visibility into a vehicle, unlike darker modifications often associated with criminal misuse.

The commissioner maintained that heavily tinted vehicles have featured in several criminal investigations handled by the command, particularly cases involving kidnappings and “one-chance” syndicates.

The renewed enforcement campaign comes amid growing concerns over security challenges in the nation’s capital, with authorities insisting that stricter monitoring of tinted vehicles is necessary to enhance public safety and support crime prevention efforts.