The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 199,495 litres of smuggled premium motor spirit (PMS) valued at N199 million in the Zone D axis, covering Adamawa and Taraba commands.
Speaking at a press conference in Yola on Thursday, the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, revealed that the seized petrol was allegedly being smuggled into Cameroon before it was intercepted by Customs operatives.
He detailed that the confiscated items included four fuel tankers carrying 97,000 litres, 1,363 jerry cans of 25 litres each, totaling 34,075 litres, and 311 drums of 220 litres each, amounting to 68,420 litres.
He also noted that fuel tankers attempting to conceal smuggled petrol at unauthorized dispensing points—often used as storage reservoirs—were among the intercepted goods.
Adeniyi attributed the successful operation to intelligence-driven surveillance, carried out under the special “Operation Whirlwind” squad, which was strategically deployed to curb fuel smuggling across border areas.
Highlighting the dangers posed by fuel smuggling, he warned that such activities disrupt the domestic fuel supply chain and threaten national security infrastructure.
He also disclosed that Customs personnel had encountered significant risks during the operation, including night-time river crossings at Dasin waterways and the dismantling of illegal fuel storage facilities in border communities.
The Customs chief emphasized that fuel smuggling inflicts severe economic damage and called for stronger collaboration among security agencies to combat the menace effectively.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to safeguarding the national economy and ensuring strict enforcement of anti-smuggling laws.
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