The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced one of its largest petroleum product seizures in recent months, following intensified anti-smuggling operations under Operation Whirlwind in the Adamawa/Taraba Area Command.
The operation, conducted over an eight-week period, led to the confiscation of over 184,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and the disruption of several smuggling syndicates attempting to ferry fuel across Nigeria’s borders.
At a press conference held on Thursday at the Customs House in Yola, the Comptroller General of Customs, Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, represented by the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) Kolapo Oladeji, described the seizures as “a significant milestone” in the Service’s aggressive campaign to protect the country’s strategic energy resources.
According to ACG Oladeji, officers deployed under Operation Whirlwind Zone D’ recorded 55 separate seizures within the eight-week timeframe, amounting to a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦181.6 million.
Most of the interceptions were made at well-known smuggling corridors across the state, including Mubi–Sahuda, Farang–Belel, Gurin–Fufore, Maiha, Wuro Bokki, Ribadu waterways, Muninga, and Bakin Kogi.
The confiscated fuel included 2,642 jerrycans of 25-litre PMS, 11,256 litres stored in a filling station, and 485 drums of 220-litre capacity, all believed to be destined for illegal export.
He said NCS also intercepted two large wooden boats, which smugglers used to convey the product across waterways.
ACG Oladeji stressed that the confiscation was not only critical to prevent economic sabotage but also aligned with national priorities on energy security, food security, and economic stabilization.
He said the operation’s success demonstrates the Service’s renewed commitment to enforce the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directives on safeguarding national assets.
“These seizures are not just statistics. They represent fuel that would have been diverted into illicit markets outside the country, worsening fuel scarcity, creating artificial inflation, and undermining government revenue. By stopping them, we are directly protecting Nigeria’s economy,” he said.
Despite the gains, Oladeji expressed concern over persistent attacks on Customs personnel by smugglers and their collaborators.
He recalled a recent incident on October 19, 2025, in which officers on duty along the Farang–Belel axis came under mob attack at about 1:00 a.m. He commended the professionalism of the operatives, noting that they were able to avoid casualties while securing the seized fuel.
He warned that the Service would not bow to intimidation, adding that Operation Whirlwind is fully repositioned to make the borders increasingly “airtight” and frustrate smuggling cartels operating in the region.
“We will continue to dismantle the supply chains of these economic wreckers. Our operatives are trained, motivated and supported, and we will ensure the law is fully enforced,” Oladeji maintained.
The Customs chief also extended appreciation to border communities, whose timely intelligence reports played a significant role in the interception of the smuggled PMS. He urged residents to continue supporting security agencies, describing community participation as indispensable in the national anti-smuggling campaign.
Similarly, he commended the media for sustained public enlightenment on the dangers of fuel smuggling, noting that collective vigilance is crucial to securing Nigeria’s borders. “If you see something, say something. Security is everyone’s business,” he told journalists.
Oladeji also acknowledged the support of key national institutions including the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and specialized Customs units such as CIU, SIS, CPU, and FOU Zone D.
He praised the operatives of Operation Whirlwind Zone D for their resilience and urged them not to relent.
“Your efforts are transforming the nation’s economy and safeguarding our borders. Keep the flag flying.”
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