U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized a stolen 2018 Cadillac Escalade out of Charlotte, NC valued at more than $57,000 at the Port of Wilmington, Delaware on September 25, 2019.
Officers encountered the Escalade destined for Togo in West Africa. Officers discovered that the Escalade’s visible VIN number belonged to a 2018 Mercedes Benz and detained the vehicle for a thorough examination.
Officers were able to trace the Escalade’s true VIN to a stolen vehicle report from Charlotte, N.C. Additionally, officers confirmed with Minnesota authorities that the vehicle’s state title that was presented with the export documents was fraudulent.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection routinely inspects imported and exported international cargo to search for weapons, illicit narcotics, bulk currency, counterfeit consumer products, and other prohibited items, and to ensure that new and used vehicles, boats, campers and farm machinery comply with existing U.S. laws.
