The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), through Operation Whirlwind, has intercepted 20,500 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and five vehicles with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of about M38 million in a major crackdown on petroleum smuggling across the Lagos-Ogun border corridor.
The seizures, which were made at key smuggling flashpoints including Imeko, Ilara, Ilaro, Idiroko and Seme-Badagry, were publicly auctioned on Monday at the Customs Training College, Ikeja, Lagos, in line with existing regulations governing the disposal of seized petroleum products.
Addressing journalists and stakeholders during the auction, the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind said the operation was carried out on the directive of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and was driven by credible intelligence that exposed a coordinated network involved in the illegal export of petroleum products to neighbouring countries.
He disclosed that officers intercepted 820 jerrycans of 25 litres each, amounting to 20,500 litres of PMS, alongside five vehicles used to transport the products.
“Acting based on credible intelligence, our operatives successfully dismantled a coordinated smuggling network involved in the illegal exportation of PMS to neighbouring countries. During this operation, a total of 820 jerrycans of 25 litres each, amounting to 20,500 litres, were intercepted across key flashpoints, including Imeko, Ilara, Ilaro, Idiroko and Seme-Badagry,” he said.
The coordinator noted that the operation underscores the Nigeria Customs Service’s determination to protect the nation’s economy, secure critical assets and combat all forms of smuggling and economic sabotage through enhanced surveillance, intelligence gathering and enforcement.
He explained that Operation Whirlwind was established as a strategic national initiative to prevent the illegal diversion and cross-border smuggling of petroleum products, safeguard Nigeria’s energy security, preserve government revenue and ensure products meant for local consumption reach legitimate end users.
According to him, petroleum smuggling remains a major threat to Nigeria’s economic stability as it deprives government of critical revenue, distorts the domestic supply chain, encourages artificial scarcity and fuels criminal activities.
“Petroleum smuggling remains a serious threat to Nigeria’s economic stability and national security. It deprives the government of critical revenue, distorts the domestic supply chain, encourages artificial scarcity, fuels criminal enterprises and undermines the gains of ongoing reforms in the petroleum sector. The Nigeria Customs Service will continue to confront these criminal activities with unwavering determination,” he stated.
He said the seized products were auctioned publicly to ensure transparency and accountability while returning the fuel to the legitimate domestic supply chain instead of allowing it to find its way back into illegal channels.
The National Coordinator commended the Office of the National Security Adviser, led by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for strengthening inter-agency collaboration, while also praising the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for providing technical and regulatory support to the operation.
He equally acknowledged the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs and the management of the Nigeria Customs Service for providing the policy direction and operational support that have strengthened Operation Whirlwind nationwide.
Warning smugglers to desist from their activities, he stressed that the operation would continue to intensify intelligence gathering and enforcement across the country’s borders.
“Operation Whirlwind remains intelligence-driven, proactive and uncompromising in its resolve. We shall continue to identify, intercept, investigate and dismantle all smuggling networks operating within and around our borders.”
He also appealed to residents of border communities to support security agencies with credible information, stressing that the fight against petroleum smuggling requires collective effort.
The Customs Service reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the offensive against fuel smuggling and ensuring Nigeria’s petroleum resources are protected for the benefit of the country’s economy and its citizens.
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