The Operation Whirlwind of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 15,375 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), valued at N15.37 million, at different border communities in the Niger-Kwara axis.
The seizure, involving 615 jerrycans of 25 litres each, was recorded during intelligence-led operations targeting smuggling networks and the illegal diversion of petroleum products across strategic border locations in Kwara State.
The National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Mahmood Bello Ishidi, made this known on Wednesday during a public presentation of the intercepted products at the Kwara Area Command of the Service in Ilorin.
Ishidi, speaking on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, identified Kaiama, Shiya, Kenu, Boriya, Luma, Baruten, Ilesha-Baruba, Taberu, and Salla-Gwanara as some of the locations where the petroleum products were intercepted.
He said the seizures, with a combined Duty Paid Value of N15,375,000, demonstrated the commitment of the Customs Service to protecting Nigeria’s economic interests and preventing the illegal movement of petroleum products across the country’s borders.
Describing petroleum smuggling as economic sabotage, the National Coordinator warned that the illegal trade undermined government revenue, disrupted domestic supply chains, and contributed to artificial scarcity and increased prices of petroleum products.
“Beyond depriving the nation of critical revenue, it distorts the supply chain, leading to scarcity and inflated costs that unfairly burden honest Nigerians,” he said.
He warned that petroleum smuggling strengthens organized criminal networks, weakens border security, and poses wider threats to national security, noting that the service would intensify enforcement operations against smugglers.
The Coordinator explained that the public auction was designed to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of seized petroleum products while reflecting the government’s commitment to the prudent handling of recovered national resources.
He pledged to strengthen intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration, operational supervision, and enforcement strategies to consolidate the achievements of Operation Whirlwind.
“As the newly appointed National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, I reaffirm my unwavering commitment to providing purposeful and strategic leadership, enhancing operational effectiveness, and consolidating the gains and achievements already recorded by the operation,” he stressed.
Ishidi commended the Comptroller-General of Customs and the management of the Service for their support, while acknowledging the contributions of the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority to the fight against petroleum smuggling.
He also praised the Acting Controller of the Kwara Area Command, Deputy Comptroller Najeem Akanmu Ogundeyi, and the officers of Operation Whirlwind in the Niger-Kwara axis for their professionalism and dedication.
The Customs chief called on residents of border communities to support security agencies by providing credible and timely information about suspicious movements and activities.
“The fight against smuggling is a collective responsibility, and your support remains indispensable in protecting the nation’s economic stability,” he appealed.
Earlier, the Acting Area Controller of the Kwara Command, Deputy Comptroller Najeem Akanmu Ogundeyi, stressed the importance of sustained cooperation among security agencies and other stakeholders in tackling smuggling and related economic crimes, describing inter-agency collaboration as a major factor in achieving national security and economic objectives.
He added that their attendance underscored the importance of collective action in addressing security and economic challenges.
