The Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted 1,650 jerry cans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, valued at N40.7 million across border communities in Lagos State.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this while addressing journalists at the Customs Training College in Ikeja.
He was represented by the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind and Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs, Abubakar Aliyu.
According to Adeniyi, the seized PMS, totalling 41,250 litres, was intercepted over nine weeks at identified smuggling corridors, including Owode-Apa, Seme Border and Badagry.
He said operatives intensified surveillance and enforcement operations across critical border communities, leading to the seizures.
In addition to the jerry cans, three tankers conveying 60,000 litres, 45,000 litres and 49,000 litres of PMS respectively were impounded, bringing the total volume of fuel intercepted in the trucks to 154,000 litres.
The Customs boss said the seizures were intelligence-driven and part of Operation Whirlwind, an anti-smuggling initiative launched in 2024 to curb cross-border diversion of petroleum products and other contraband.
He warned that violations of established regulatory frameworks governing petroleum distribution undermine government policy, distort market stability and deprive the nation of revenue.
The seized products were handed over to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority for further investigation in line with inter-agency collaboration protocols.
A representative of the NMDPRA, Mrs Grace Dauda, reiterated the agency’s commitment to ensuring that petroleum products meant for domestic consumption are not diverted for export, urging the public to support efforts to combat economic sabotage.
