By George Ozalla
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has auctioned 22,175 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) seized by Operation Whirlwind along the Lagos-Ogun axis, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N32.1 million.
The National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Deputy Comptroller Abubakar Aliyu, disclosed this on Monday at the public auction held at the Customs Training College, Ikeja, Lagos.
Aliyu said the auction was conducted on the directive of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, to ensure transparency, accountability and proper handling of seized petroleum products in line with extant laws and approved procedures.
He said Customs operatives intercepted 887 jerry cans containing 25 litres of petrol each, bringing the total quantity to 22,175 litres. Five vehicles used in conveying the products were also seized.
According to him, the seizures were made at identified smuggling flashpoints, including Imeko, Ilara, Ilaro, Idiroko and Seme-Badagry, following credible intelligence.
Aliyu said the combined DPV of the seized petrol and the means of conveyance was N32.1 million, describing the operation as targeted and intelligence-driven.
He said Operation Whirlwind was focused on stopping the illegal movement, diversion and cross-border smuggling of petroleum products to neighbouring countries.
The Customs coordinator said the NCS had stepped up surveillance, intelligence gathering and enforcement along routes identified as vulnerable to petroleum products smuggling.
He said the measures were aimed at protecting the country’s economic interests, strengthening national energy security and ensuring that products meant for domestic consumption were not diverted.
Aliyu urged participants and other stakeholders to comply with the approved auction guidelines to ensure a fair and transparent exercise.
He also commended the Comptroller-General and NCS management for their support and strategic direction, while appreciating the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for their collaboration.
He praised officers and men of Operation Whirlwind Zone A for their professionalism and commitment to duty, warning that the operation would continue to dismantle illegal smuggling networks through intelligence-led enforcement.
Aliyu also called on border communities to provide timely information on suspicious activities, stressing that tackling smuggling required the cooperation of all stakeholders.
The Acting Commandant of the Customs Training College, Ikeja, Deputy Comptroller Patience Ita, said the Comptroller-General had maintained a zero-tolerance stance on the smuggling of petroleum products and other goods.
Ita, who hosted the auction, said the exercise should serve as a warning to smugglers, noting that even small-scale diversion of petroleum products could have serious consequences for the national economy.
