Nigeria Customs Seizes Togo-Bound 26,950 Litres of Smuggled Petrol

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the seizure of 26,950 litres of Premium Motor Spirits (PMS), commonly known as petrol, worth over N19 million, being smuggled out of the country through Ogun State with a destination target of Togo.

The NCS’ Special Operations team, Operation Whirlwind, intercepted the products in various operations in the last week, as the team seized 978 kegs of 25 litres each, totalling 26,950 litres of petrol.

According to the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Mr Hussein Ejibunu, the seizures were made in four different operations within the state.

Mr Ejibunu warned smugglers to desist from the illegal activity or face the consequences, nothing that the operation was a joint effort between the NCS and the Office of the National Security Adviser to combat illegal exportation of petroleum products.

“Recall, just two weeks ago, the Nigeria Customs Service, ably led by the CGC Adewale Adeniyi, in close collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser, set up Operation Whirlwind Taskforce team. This initiative was conceived to end the ever-growing monster of unwholesome illegal exportation of petroleum products.

“Competent and dedicated officers that make up the squad were drafted from various Customs formations and given the prerequisite training before being dispatched to the four Customs zones (A, B, C, and D). In about two weeks of operation, Operation Whirlwind team, Zone ‘A’ axis, intercepted 26,950 litres of PMS worth N19 million,” he said.

According to him, the menace posed by smugglers on the Nigerian economy can not be overemphasized, adding that there was a need for synergy and cooperation with other government agencies in this fight.

“There is a huge distortion in the supply chain of petroleum products to designated states and filling stations due to diversion to neighbouring countries.”