Customs Seizes Millions Of Naira Worth Of Smuggled Fuel In Adamawa, Taraba

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) dealt a significant blow to fuel smugglers by intercepting 34,470 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, along the Adamawa and Taraba border corridors.

The operation, based on intelligence, led to the seizure of 1,149 PMS jerrycans and a modified transport vehicle valued at ₦4 million.

The confiscated goods have a duty-paid value of approximately ₦37.78 million.

In a press briefing on Thursday, Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adeniyi described the operation as a strategic response to increasingly sophisticated smuggling networks operating along the Adamawa/Taraba border.

He stated that intelligence revealed the area’s use as a critical transit point for cross-border fuel diversion, resulting in significant revenue losses, supply chain disruptions, artificial scarcity, and threats to regional security.

Adeniyi issued a strong warning against internal collusion, citing intelligence indicating complicity by some Customs officers and border community members. He vowed to investigate the allegations and prosecute anyone found to be involved.

Garba Bashir, Comptroller of Customs for Adamawa/Taraba Command, reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to combating smuggling, emphasising the negative impact of illicit fuel trade on legitimate businesses, government revenue, and national security.

Hussaini Ejibunu, the Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, praised the intelligence-led operation’s efficiency, noting that the seizures were completed in just three hours.

He stressed that the operation focused on smuggling routes rather than fixed checkpoints, emphasising Taraba State’s role as a conduit for fuel smuggling.

Ejibunu urged community cooperation and encouraged citizens to report suspicious activity.

To alleviate fuel shortages caused by smuggling, Comptroller General Adeniyi announced that seized petrol would be sold to the public at a subsidised rate.

The swift action and significant seizure highlight the NCS’s ongoing efforts to combat illegal fuel trade and secure Nigeria’s borders.