The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified its crackdown on fuel smuggling, intercepting 916 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) suspected to be illegally diverted in Adamawa State.
The seized fuel, totaling 22,900 liters, was confiscated at four major smuggling flashpoints: Maiha, Mubi, Gurin, and Belel.
Addressing journalists in Yola on Friday, the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) Hussein Ejibunu, revealed that the operation took place between January 29, 2025, and the present.
He described it as an intelligence-driven effort aimed at curbing fuel smuggling, which poses a significant threat to the nation’s economy and security.
The seized petrol, with an estimated Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦22.9 million, was being transported through unauthorized routes, allegedly for illicit trade.
In addition to the jerrycans of fuel, five vehicles used for transportation were also confiscated. These were displayed during the press briefing at the Adamawa/Taraba Area Office of the NCS in Yola.
Ejibunu emphasized that fuel smuggling remains a major challenge due to its profitability for economic saboteurs.
However, he assured that the NCS remains committed to dismantling smuggling networks and enforcing compliance with fuel distribution regulations.
The Area Controller of the Adamawa/Taraba Area Command, Garba Bashir, urged petrol marketers to adhere strictly to designated supply routes as specified in their loading manifests.
He warned that any deviation from approved routes could lead to confiscation of fuel consignments and prosecution.
This latest seizure underscores the NCS’s ongoing efforts to combat fuel smuggling and safeguard Nigeria’s resources from illegal trade.
