The Nigeria Customs Service has disrupted a coordinated fuel smuggling network operating along the South-West border corridor, recovering 14,875 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) intended for illegal export. The interception marks a continuation of targeted enforcement measures aimed at curbing cross-border diversion of refined petroleum products and protecting domestic supply channels.
Deputy Comptroller Abubakar Aliyu, National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, provided details during a briefing at the Customs Training College in Ikeja on March 31. Guided by actionable intelligence gathered over several weeks, customs personnel executed targeted raids across multiple transit routes. Agents seized 544 jerrycans at strategic points including Imeko, Ilara, Ilaro, Idiroko, and the Seme-Badagry axis. With each container holding 24 litres, the total recovered volume carried a duty-paid value of ₦14.87 million.
The seized petrol was subsequently liquidated through a regulated public auction. Officials confirmed that the consignment was sold at subsidised market rates to ensure the product re-enters legitimate domestic distribution rather than being siphoned into unregulated markets. The disposal process involved joint oversight by government agencies, security personnel, and accredited media to maintain procedural transparency and financial accountability.
Operational coordination was strengthened under directives from the Office of the National Security Adviser, which has promoted intelligence sharing and joint checkpoint monitoring between border control units. Customs authorities noted that integrated deployment models have improved response efficiency and surveillance coverage across vulnerable frontier zones. Enforcement teams will continue to monitor high-traffic smuggling routes while refining data-driven patrol strategies.
The operation highlights sustained regulatory efforts to secure Nigeria’s land borders against unauthorised fuel exports and maintain compliance with national distribution frameworks. The Nigeria Customs Service reiterated its commitment to expanding checkpoint capacity and maintaining consistent enforcement protocols to deter further illicit trade.
