By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), through its anti-smuggling unit, Operation Whirlwind, has intercepted three fuel tankers carrying a combined 154,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) along the Badagry corridor, thwarting an attempted diversion of petroleum products.
Disclosing this on Sunday on the X handle of NCS @CustonsNG, the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Deputy Comptroller Abubakar Aliyu, disclosed the development on Friday during a handover and public auction held at the Customs Training College, Ikeja. He said the seizures followed sustained intelligence-led operations across the Owode Apa, Seme and Badagry axis.
According to Aliyu, the intercepted tankers were loaded with 60,000 litres, 49,000 litres and 45,000 litres of PMS respectively, in breach of established Standard Operating Procedures governing the movement of petroleum products.
“Their interception was not accidental; it was the outcome of intelligence-driven operations, vigilance, and the uncompromising resolve of Operation Whirlwind to safeguard Nigeria’s economic and energy security,” he said.
Aliyu revealed that within nine weeks, operatives intensified surveillance across critical border communities, resulting in the seizure of 1,630 jerry-cans of PMS, each containing 25 litres. The total volume of 40,750 litres carries a Duty Paid Value of ₦40.75 million.
He stressed that the transportation and distribution of petroleum products are regulated under strict frameworks designed to prevent diversion, smuggling, hoarding and other forms of economic sabotage.
Describing the Owode Apa, Seme and Badagry corridors as sensitive economic arteries historically exploited for illegal cross-border petroleum movements, Aliyu warned that there would be no safe haven for offenders.
In line with inter-agency collaboration, the seized tankers were handed over to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority for further regulatory action.
A representative of the Authority, Grace Dauda, commended the synergy between the agencies and reaffirmed its mandate to ensure petroleum products meant for domestic consumption are not diverted outside the country.
To promote transparency and accountability, the seized PMS contained in the jerry-cans was auctioned to members of the public in accordance with extant regulations, underscoring the Service’s commitment to proper asset disposal and enforcement of the law.
