The Nigeria Customs Service, Operation Whirlwind, on Monday auctioned 20,500 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, intercepted within the Zone A axis.
Speaking during the public auction of the products in Ikeja, the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Lucky Aliyu, a Deputy Controller of Customs, explained that, acting on credible intelligence, operatives successfully dismantled a coordinated smuggling network involved in the illegal exportation of PMS to neighbouring countries.
Aliyu highlighted that during the operation, a total of “820 jerrycans of 25 litres each were intercepted, amounting to 20,500 litres. These seizures were made across key flashpoints, including Imeko, Ilara, Ilaro, Idiroko, and Seme-Badagry.”
“In addition to the seized petroleum products, five vehicles used in conveying the products were also intercepted. The combined duty-paid value of the seized PMS and the vehicles was estimated at N38m,” Aliyu added.
Aliyu stated that the service continues to uphold its constitutional mandate of safeguarding the nation’s economy, protecting vital assets, and tackling all forms of smuggling and economic sabotage, adding that, recently, efforts have been significantly intensified through improved surveillance, stronger intelligence operations, and more robust enforcement activities along major routes identified for the illegal diversion and cross-border smuggling of petroleum products.
