Customs Seizes 15,375 Litres Of Smuggled Petrol In Kwara

The Operation Whirlwind of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 15,375 litres of petroleum valued at N15.37 million, across some border communities in Kwara State.

The seizures, comprising 615 jerrycans of 25 litres petroleum each, were intercepted at strategic locations in the Niger-Kwara axis as part of sustained efforts to combat the diversion and smuggling of petroleum products in the country.

The national coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Mahmood Bello Ishidi, disclosed this during a public auction of the seized products at the Kwara Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Ishidi, who addressed stakeholders on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said the seizures were made through intelligence-driven operations targeting identified smuggling flashpoints.

He listed the locations where the interceptions were made to include Kaiama, Shiya, Kenu, Boriya, Luma, Baruten, Ilesha-Baruba, Taberu and Salla-Gwanara.

He said the operation’s latest achievement demonstrated the determination of the Customs Service to prevent the illegal movement of petroleum products and protect Nigeria’s economic interests.

He said the intercepted products had a duty paid value (DPV) of N15,375,000.

Describing petroleum smuggling as economic sabotage, Ishidi warned that the illegal trade “undermines government revenue, disrupts the domestic supply chain and contributes to artificial scarcity and rising costs of petroleum products.”

“Beyond depriving the nation of critical revenue, it distorts the supply chain, leading to scarcity and inflated costs that unfairly burden honest Nigerians,” he said.

He added that the illicit business also strengthened organised criminal networks, weakened border security and posed wider threats to national security.

Ishidi, who described the auction of the seized petroleum as part of efforts to ensure transparency and accountability in the handling of seized products, said the exercise reflected the government’s commitment to the prudent management of recovered national resources.

He promised to strengthen intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration, operational supervision and enforcement strategies to consolidate the achievements of Operation Whirlwind.

“As the newly appointed national coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, I reaffirm my unwavering commitment to providing purposeful and strategic leadership, enhancing operational effectiveness and consolidating on the gains and achievements already recorded by the operation,” he stated.

He explained that the renewed strategy would prioritise stronger coordination, intelligence-led interventions and a result-driven operational framework to improve the effectiveness of the operation.

Ishidi commended the Comptroller-General of Customs and the management of the Nigeria Customs Service for their continued support, while acknowledging the contributions of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to the fight against petroleum smuggling.

He equally praised the Acting Controller of the Kwara Area Command and officers of Operation Whirlwind in the Niger-Kwara axis for their professionalism, diligence and commitment, which he said had contributed to the successes recorded by the team.