Customs Auctions 20,500 Litres of Seized Petrol, Warns Smugglers of Tougher Crackdown

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), through its anti-smuggling initiative, Operation Whirlwind, on Monday auctioned 20,500 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, intercepted from suspected smugglers operating along the Lagos and Ogun border corridor.

The public auction, held at the Customs Training College, Ikeja, Lagos, followed the interception of the petroleum products during intelligence-led operations carried out across Imeko, Ilara, Ilaro, Idiroko and the Seme-Badagry axis.

Speaking at the exercise on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind said the auction was conducted in line with the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to transparency, accountability and due process in the disposal of seized petroleum products.

He disclosed that the operation led to the seizure of 820 jerrycans of 25 litres each, amounting to 20,500 litres of PMS, as well as five vehicles used to transport the products. According to him, the combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized petrol and vehicles is estimated at ₦38 million.

The National Coordinator explained that the products were intercepted while being illegally moved for export to neighbouring countries, contrary to Nigeria’s laws regulating the distribution and movement of petroleum products.

He noted that Operation Whirlwind was established as a strategic national initiative to combat the illegal diversion and cross-border smuggling of petroleum products, protect Nigeria’s energy security, safeguard government revenue and ensure that fuel intended for domestic consumers reaches legitimate end users.

According to him, the Nigeria Customs Service has intensified surveillance, intelligence gathering and enforcement operations along major smuggling routes in response to the persistent activities of fuel smugglers.

He described petroleum smuggling as a major threat to Nigeria’s economy, saying it deprives the government of revenue, disrupts domestic fuel supply, creates artificial scarcity, encourages criminal activities and undermines ongoing reforms in the petroleum sector.

He stressed that auctioning the seized PMS ensures that the products are returned to the legitimate domestic market instead of finding their way back into illegal channels.

The National Coordinator said the disposal process was conducted in the presence of relevant government agencies, security organisations, civil society groups and members of the media to guarantee openness and credibility.

He commended the Office of the National Security Adviser, led by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for strengthening inter-agency collaboration, which has enhanced the effectiveness of Operation Whirlwind nationwide.

He also praised the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for providing technical and regulatory support that has improved enforcement efforts against fuel smuggling.

The Customs official further appreciated Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and the management of the Nigeria Customs Service for their leadership, policy direction and continued support for Operation Whirlwind.

He equally commended officers of Operation Whirlwind and partner security agencies for their professionalism, vigilance and commitment, which made the successful interception possible.

Issuing a stern warning to smugglers, he declared that Operation Whirlwind would continue to identify, intercept, investigate and dismantle criminal networks involved in the illegal diversion and smuggling of petroleum products across Nigeria’s borders.

He appealed to residents of border communities and members of the public to support security agencies by providing credible and timely information, stressing that the fight against smuggling requires collective effort.

Reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting Nigeria’s petroleum resources, the National Coordinator assured Nigerians that Operation Whirlwind would sustain intelligence-driven operations and intensify surveillance across all operational zones to safeguard the nation’s economic interests.

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