Customs Seize 184 Litres Of PMS Worth N181m In Adamawa

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized over 184,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) with Duty pay value of N181 million in Adamawa state.

The comptroller general of Customs Bashir Adeniyi said the seizure is the largest ever recorded in the state.

The CG represented by the national coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, assistant comptroller general (ACG) Kolapo Oladeji, said the seizures followed intensified anti-smuggling operations under Operation Whirlwind under the command.

Briefing newsmen in Yola Thursday, ACG Oladeji, said officers deployed under Operation Whirlwind Zone D’ recorded 55 separate seizures within the eight-week timeframe, amounting to a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N181.6 million.

He said most of the interceptions were made at well-known smuggling corridors across the state, including Mubi–Sahuda, Farang–Belel, Gurin–Fufore, Maiha, Wuro Bokki, Ribadu waterways, Muninga, and Bakin Kogi.

The confiscated fuel included 2,642 jerrycans of 25-litre PMS, 11,256 litres stored in a filling station, and 485 drums of 220-litre capacity, all believed to be destined for illegal export.

‎He said NCS also intercepted two large wooden boats, which smugglers used to convey the product across waterways.

‎ACG Oladeji stressed that the confiscation was not only critical to prevent economic sabotage but also aligned with national priorities on energy security, food security, and economic stabilisation.

‎He said the operation’s success demonstrates the Service’s renewed commitment to enforce the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directives on safeguarding national assets.

‎“These seizures are not just statistics. They represent fuel that would have been diverted into illicit markets outside the country, worsening fuel scarcity, creating artificial inflation, and undermining government revenue. By stopping them, we are directly protecting Nigeria’s economy,” he said.

‎Despite the gains, Oladeji expressed concern over persistent attacks on Customs personnel by smugglers and their collaborators.

‎He recalled a recent incident on October 19, 2025, in which officers on duty along the Farang–Belel axis came under mob attack at about 1:00 a.m. He commended the professionalism of the operatives, noting that they were able to avoid casualties while securing the seized fuel.

‎He warned that the Service would not bow to intimidation, adding that Operation Whirlwind is fully repositioned to make the borders increasingly “airtight” and frustrate smuggling cartels operating in the region.

‎“We will continue to dismantle the supply chains of these economic wreckers. Our operatives are trained, motivated and supported, and we will ensure the law is fully enforced,” Oladeji maintained.

‎The Customs chief also extended appreciation to border communities, whose timely intelligence reports played a significant role in the interception of the smuggled PMS.

He urged residents to continue supporting security agencies, describing community participation as indispensable in the national anti-smuggling campaign.