The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has auctioned 20,500 litres of petrol worth N38 million intercepted by Operation Whirlwind in the Lagos – Ogun axis.
The National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Deputy Comptroller, Abubakar Aliyu, said this while addressing stakeholders on Monday at the Customs Training College, Ikeja.
Aliu said that the exercise was carried out on the directive of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi.
He said the Nigeria Customs Service remained committed to its constitutional mandate of safeguarding the national economy, protecting critical assets, and dismantling all networks involved in smuggling and economic sabotage across the country.
According to him, surveillance, intelligence gathering and enforcement have been intensified along major routes notorious for the illegal diversion and cross-border smuggling of petroleum products to neighboring countries.
Aliyu said that operation Whirlwind was established as a strategic national initiative to combat the illegal diversion of petroleum products, protect Nigeria’s energy security, and ensure that products meant for domestic use reach legitimate consumers.
“Acting on credible intelligence, operatives dismantled a coordinated smuggling syndicate and intercepted 820 jerry-cans of 25 litres each, totaling 20,500 litres of petrol across flashpoints.
“These include Imeko, Ilara, Ilaro, Idiroko and Seme-Badagry,” he said.
He said that in addition to the seized products, five vehicles used for conveying the PMS were also impounded.
He put the Duty Paid Value of the petroleum products and the vehicles at N38 million.
The coordinator said that the seized products were earmarked for illegal export in violation of national laws regulating the distribution and movement of petroleum products within Nigeria’s borders.
He said petroleum smuggling posed a grave threat to economic stability and national security because it deprives government of revenue, distorts supply chains, creates artificial scarcity and fuels criminal enterprises.
“Keeping with legal provisions, the seized products are being disposed through a public auction.
“This is to ensure they are reintegrated into the legitimate domestic supply chain rather than returned to illegal channels,” he said.
He said that the auction was conducted with the participation of relevant government agencies, security personnel, civil society organisations and the media.
According to, him, this is to guarantee transparency, accountability and integrity in the disposal process.
The coordinator acknowledged the strategic guidance of the Office of the National Security Adviser, and the technical oversight of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for supporting the operation.
He also commended the Comptroller-General of Customs and the entire NCS management for providing policy direction, resources and leadership that have strengthened Operation Whirlwind across all operational zones nationwide.
He warned individuals and syndicates involved in petroleum smuggling that Operation Whirlwind remained intelligence-driven and uncompromising, and will continue to identify, intercept, investigate and dismantle all smuggling networks.
Aliyu urged members of the public, especially residents of border communities, to provide timely information to security agencies, stressing that the fight against smuggling is a shared responsibility for national economic prosperity.
The representative of NMDPRA, Mrs Grace Dauda, acknowledged the synergy with NCS, saying the regulation of fuel distribution falls within the jurisdiction of the authority.
“We understand the importance of petroleum products to our economy. When people take petroleum products out of the country without authorisation, operation whirlwind will intercept them,” Dauda said.
She appealed to members of the public, especially residents of border communities, to provide timely information to security agencies to enable them track and intercept smugglers.
She also urged petroleum distributors to follow due process to avoid losses.(NAN)
