Customs seize 635,000 litres of smuggled petrol

The Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted about 635,132 litres of Premium Motor Spirit worth hundreds of millions of naira in the past six months, as its anti-smuggling outfit, Operation Whirlwind, intensifies efforts to curb the illegal export of petroleum products to neighbouring countries.

An analysis of NCS statements shows the seizures were recorded across multiple states from October to March.

In October, operatives intercepted 49,500 litres of PMS valued at ₦80.4m along smuggling flashpoints in Lagos and Ogun states, including the Ajilete, Badagry, and Idiroko axes. Separately, the Kebbi Area Command seized 35,725 litres — 14,750 litres by Operation Whirlwind and 20,975 litres by command officers — across border flashpoints including Bagudo, Kamba, and Zuru.

The operation recorded its biggest haul in December, when 284,006 litres of PMS valued at ₦181.6m were seized in Adamawa State over two months, with two wooden boats used for cross-border ferrying also confiscated. In January, the Adamawa/Taraba Command added another 50,495 litres to the tally.

In February, Customs Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi handed over 1,650 jerrycans of PMS worth ₦40.7m to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.

Three tankers carrying a combined 154,000 litres were also seized.

The Federal Operations Unit Zone A separately arrested eight suspects and seized 20,700 litres of PMS among contraband valued at ₦3.3bn.

In March, 14,375 litres bound for Cameroon were intercepted in Calabar.

Last week, Operation Whirlwind auctioned 14,875 litres seized along the Lagos/Ogun axis.

The National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Deputy Comptroller-General Abubakar Aliyu, said enforcement has been stepped up through improved surveillance and intelligence-driven operations targeting major smuggling corridors.