The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 199,495 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, with a Duty Paid Value of N199,495,000.
Comptroller General of the NCS, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, made the announcement on Thursday during a press briefing at the Service’s Adamawa/Taraba Command in Yola.
He revealed that the seizure was part of Operation Whirlwind, a collaborative effort between the NCS, the Office of the National Security Adviser, and the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority aimed at curbing fuel smuggling.
Adeniyi explained that the interception was carried out through intelligence-driven operations and strategic tactics designed to disrupt sophisticated smuggling networks.
According to him, the seized petroleum products included four fuel tankers carrying 97,000 litres, 1,363 jerry cans of 25 litres each, and 311 drums of 220 litres each.
He further stated that the operation led to the discovery and dismantling of illegal storage facilities, the interception of fuel tankers, and the prevention of cross-border smuggling through unauthorized routes.
The Customs chief reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to tackling fuel smuggling and ensuring that petroleum products are not diverted from local markets to unauthorized destinations.
