Posted on 05/25/2006 5:48:38 PM PDT by SJackson
Federal customs agents seized a Mercedes-Benz from an army reservist who said the armour-plated, bulletproofed luxury car probably belonged to Saddam Hussein.
First Sergeant William von Zeal said he bought the car while serving in Iraq. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents said on Thursday that the car, which was also equipped with loudspeakers and hidden microphones, was being treated as a "possible war trophy".
"It belonged to the former Iraqi regime," ICE spokesperson Dean Boyd said.
He said investigators were unsure whether the former Iraqi dictator actually owned it.
Von Zeal was quoted in news stories last summer as saying he bought the white 1988 Mercedes Benz 560 SEL for about $5 000 in 2003 while serving in Baghdad with the 411th Civil Affairs Battalion.
"I can't prove it, but yeah, this was Saddam Hussein's car," he said this summer.
Von Zehle said he learned through research that Mercedes sold three armoured 560s to the Iraqi government in 1988, while it was headed by Saddam Hussein. Von Zehle said he also saw three photos of the former Iraqi dictator driving in a white armoured Mercedes.
Von Zehle spotted the car in a driveway in an upscale neighbourhood soon after he arrived in Baghdad in April 2003. He negotiated the sale with the owner, who produced a sales receipt that identified the previous owner as "the Iraqi government".
His Mercedes was shipped through Jordan and Syria to Greece to Spain before finally arriving in May 2004 in the United States. Von Zehle repaired several parts on the car and parked it in his garage once he returned from Iraq.
Among its unique features: The vehicle was equipped with a series of pipes that shoot flames out the side of the car.
A message left at von Zeal's home Friday was not immediately returned.
Federal agents were holding the car while investigating possible violations of federal smuggling laws, as well as an executive order barring the importation of property from the former Iraqi regime.
Von Zeal was not charged with a crime. Customs officials did not immediately say what will happen to the car.
The case is being investigated by customs agents and the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction. - Sapa-AP
Let him keep it,or sell it to me maybe ???
This is garbage. If he purchased the car from a private seller who had papers that show he purchased the car from the Iraqi government, .........What's the problem. My vote...He keeps the car.
Seargent Von Zeal huh? It's Bilko! I know it is. It's Bilko, isn't it?
Oh boys, take me back
I wanna ride in Saddam's Cadillac
Of course, if it was a Congresspunk that bought the car it would be ok.
Ya gotta admit this guy is a class A operator.
getting the car and having it shipped and arrive i the USA had to ba a major coup.
Federal Agents will hold it till one of their operators figures a way to get it aay from the Sgt.
I bet the back seat is familiar territory to Fatalie Maines and the other two Ditzy Chicks.
The vehicle was equipped with a series of pipes that shoot flames out the side of the car.
If you've never considered the Blaster, the video link at the article still works. It's worth a look.
Yep.
Oh!!!!! I must have that........
EBAY time.
Give me a break -- how many cars of infamous people have been paraded around to impress the folks back home? Hitler, Bonnie and Clyde, others?
A few years ago a car museum owned by the president of a big Atlanta bank had Eva Braun's car on display. I saw it and my eyeballs didn't melt.
Let the soldier keep the damn car!
He managed to bring the car here from Iraq in 2004. Apparently no problems with customs at all. It's been in his driveway. So much for the difficulty of smuggling WMDs.
How sticky were the seat covers??????
Complete BS.
He bought legally. Shipped it home legally.
Damn gov't wankers with too much time on their hands.
It's not the most important issue of the day, but I HAVE been thinking about this guy. It doesn't even matter if he gets his car back or not. He SHOULD, but even if he doesn't, this guy is gonna turn out alright.
A young guy who has an eye for a deal, when everyone else around him is just thinking of a beer. And THEN a young guy who can put his hands on enough money to swing the deal.
Because ICE handles all the borders... land, sea, and air. That's the Customs side here.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.