A total of 41,425 liters of petrol has been intercepted by the Operation Whirlwind unit of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, from smugglers mostly operating near the international borders of Adamawa and the neighboring Cameroon Republic.
During a press briefing in Yola on Wednesday, the Operation Whirlwind National Coordinator, Comptroller Hussein Ejibunu, revealed that nine vehicles used by the smugglers to transport the contraband were also confiscated.
These seizures took place between May of this year and the present, as disclosed by Ejibunu.
Providing an update on the recent seizures at the NCS Adamawa/Taraba Zonal headquarters in Yola, Ejibunu stated, “Today, we have another seizure of 1,481 kegs (Jerry cans) and 20 drums, with capacities of 25 liters and 220 liters respectively, totaling 41,425 liters of PMS (petrol).”
The petrol containers were seized alongside nine modes of transport, which were various car brands equipped with hidden petrol tanks concealed by heavily tinted windscreens.
According to Ejibunu, the cumulative duty value of these seizures amounts to N48,547,500.
“These interceptions occurred on different occasions and locations along routes such as Mubi-Sahuda road, Girei-Wuro Boki axis, Maiha road, Angwan Tana-Bajin Kogi axis, and other areas,” he explained.
He further added that Customs operatives, under the Operation Whirlwind, collaborate with NMDPRA to monitor the supply and distribution chain from the loading depot to retail outlets, ensuring that PMS reaches its designated destinations.