*as Customs seize 184,000 litres of petrol
From Joseph Adahnu , Yola
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adamawa/Taraba Command, has made one of the largest petroleum product seizures in recent months, following intensified anti-smuggling operations under Operation Whirlwind.
The Command, said within eight week operation confiscated over 184,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), and the disruption of several smuggling syndicates attempting to ferry fuel across Nigeria’s borders.
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In a press conference held at the Customs House in Yola, the Comptroller General of Customs, Dr. Bashir 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.
ACG Oladeji, officers deployed under Operation Whirlwind Zone D’ recorded 55 separate seizures within the eight-week time frame, amounting to a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦181.6 million. Most of the interceptions were made at well-known smuggling areas across the state, including Mubi–Sahuda, Farang–Belel, Gurin–Fufore, Maiha, Wuro Bokki, Ribadu waterways, Muninga, and Bakin Kogi.
He revealed that, 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, saying NCS also intercepted two large wooden boats, which smugglers used to convey the product across waterways.
He 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 stabilisation, which 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.
According to the ACG, “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 noted that despite the gains, Oladeji expressed concern over persistent attacks on Customs personnel by smugglers and their collaborators where 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.
He maintained that, “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”.
He appreciated the 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.
The Command Boss 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.
He also acknowledged the support of national institutions including the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and specialised Customs units.
