Customs foils smuggling of 60,000 litres of petrol near Katsina border

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted a tanker carrying 60,000 litres of petrol suspected to be smuggled toward the border area in Katsina State.

The interception was made on September 30 along Jibia Road by the NCS special task force, Operation Whirlwind.

The National Coordinator of the task force, Assistant Comptroller-General (ACG) Kola Oladeji, disclosed this during the official handover of the seized tanker to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in Katsina on Friday.

Oladeji, represented by the Commander in charge of the Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina axis, Assistant Comptroller Sa’ad Isah-Yahaya, said the operation was part of ongoing efforts to curb petroleum product smuggling and protect Nigeria’s energy interests.

“The interception, which took place during a coordinated patrol on Jibia Road, was part of our continuous effort to combat the diversion of petroleum products and safeguard the nation’s economic integrity,” he said.

“The tanker, which had fake manifests and improper documentation, was suspected to be heading to a border area for possible smuggling.”

He reaffirmed the service’s commitment to enforcing government directives against fuel smuggling and ensuring that petroleum products meant for domestic use remain within Nigeria.

“This handover underscores our determination to strengthen national energy security and deepen collaboration with sister agencies like the NMDPRA,” he added.

“We are sending a strong message that fuel diversion and economic sabotage will not be tolerated.”

Receiving the tanker, the Katsina State Coordinator of the NMDPRA, Mohammed Omar, commended the Customs Service for its vigilance and collaboration, describing the interception as a significant step toward sanitising the downstream sector.

He emphasised the importance of inter-agency synergy, noting that the NMDPRA remains committed to promoting accountability, compliance, and effective monitoring within the petroleum distribution network.