Customs Seizes 20,500 Litres of Smuggled Petrol

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 20,500 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and five vehicles in a major operation against petroleum smuggling along the Lagos-Ogun border corridor. The seizure, carried out through Operation Whirlwind, had a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of about N38 million.

Customs officials recovered the products from major smuggling locations, including Imeko, Ilara, Ilaro, Idiroko and Seme-Badagry. The seized petrol and vehicles were later auctioned publicly on Monday at the Customs Training College in Ikeja, Lagos, following approved procedures for disposing of seized petroleum products.

The National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind said the action followed a directive from Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and was based on reliable intelligence that uncovered an organised network involved in illegal petroleum exports to neighbouring countries.

He explained that officers intercepted 820 jerrycans of 25 litres each, containing a total of 20,500 litres of PMS, along with the vehicles used for transportation.

“Acting based on credible intelligence, our operatives successfully dismantled a coordinated smuggling network involved in the illegal exportation of PMS to neighbouring countries. During this operation, a total of 820 jerrycans of 25 litres each, amounting to 20,500 litres, were intercepted across key flashpoints, including Imeko, Ilara, Ilaro, Idiroko and Seme-Badagry,” he said.

The agency said petroleum smuggling threatens Nigeria’s economy by reducing government revenue, affecting domestic supply and creating artificial shortages. Officials added that Operation Whirlwind remains focused on protecting energy resources, improving border security and ensuring fuel reaches legitimate consumers.

The Customs coordinator praised the support of the Office of the National Security Adviser, led by Nuhu Ribadu, and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for strengthening cooperation.

He warned smugglers that enforcement efforts would continue and urged border communities to provide useful information to security agencies.

How effective do you think stronger intelligence operations can be in stopping petroleum smuggling in Nigeria?