The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 245,370 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) valued at NGN 238,140,000 under its special operation codenamed Operation Whirlwind, aimed at curbing the smuggling of petroleum products across Nigeria’s borders.
The Comptroller-General of Customs CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi made this disclosure during a press briefing at the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A Headquarters, Ikeja, Lagos State, on February 28, 2025.
Operation Whirlwind, launched by the NCS in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), is a strategic effort to dismantle the criminal networks exploiting regional price disparities to smuggle petroleum products out of Nigeria.
Speaking at the briefing,CGC emphasized that smuggling of petroleum products remained a major threat to the country’s economic stability, energy security, and revenue generation.
“Our economic intelligence reveals that substantial price disparities across regional borders remain the fundamental catalyst for this illicit trade, fostering a profoundly lucrative black market that systematically undermines Nigeria’s economic sovereignty,” the CGC said.
He disclosed that since the commencement of Operation Whirlwind, the NCS had recorded seizures of 245,370 liters of PMS within three months, excluding other interceptions made through regular command structures and Federal Operations Units.
The CGC further highlighted notable operational successes, including the interception of 199,495 liters of PMS in Adamawa State on January 30, 2025, valued at NGN 199,495,000, and 45,875 liters worth NGN 38,645,000 in Kwara State on February 17, 2025.
He reiterated the NCS’s commitment to working with sister agencies and leveraging technology to combat the smuggling of strategic national resources.
“The Nigeria Customs Service will continue to strengthen collaboration with relevant security agencies to protect the nation’s economy and ensure energy security for all Nigerians,” the CGC assured.
The press briefing ended with a call to the public to support the Service by providing timely information on suspicious activities along border communities.
