The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified its crackdown on fuel smuggling, seizing 199,495 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in Adamawa State under Operation Whirlwind.
In a statement on Thursday, Comptroller-General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to combating smuggling, describing it as a direct attack on Nigeria’s economy. He noted that intelligence-driven operations by NCS officers in the Adamawa/Taraba Command led to the interception of the smuggled fuel, which had a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦199,495,000. The illicit cargo was being transported across borders using tankers, jerry cans, and drums.
“These economic saboteurs are determined to inflict hardship on law-abiding Nigerians, but the Nigeria Customs Service remains resolute in protecting our national economy,” Adeniyi said.
He also condemned smugglers’ persistent efforts to undermine President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms aimed at stabilizing the energy sector.
According to Adeniyi, customs operatives carried out targeted interceptions at key smuggling routes, including Mova, Dasin, the Galamba-Song axis, and the Mubi-Maiha corridor. He further revealed that smugglers employed tactics such as night-time river crossings at Dasin Waterways, illegal storage facilities near border towns, and unauthorized dispensing points.
The NCS assured Nigerians that it would continue to enhance intelligence gathering, strengthen enforcement strategies, and collaborate with security agencies to dismantle smuggling networks.
“There will be no safe haven for them within our operational areas,” Adeniyi emphasized.
In his remarks, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs (Finance and Administration) ACG Hussain Ejibunu commended the leadership of the Customs chief and the dedication of the officers. He also urged citizens to support the fight against smuggling by reporting suspicious activities to security agencies.
Following the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, and with legal backing from a competent court, the seized fuel was auctioned to residents of Adamawa State at ₦630 per litre in designated filling stations, while those in 25-litre jerrycans were sold for ₦10,000 each.
