Customs intercept smuggled petroleum products worth N181.6M in Adamawa

Customs intercept smuggled petroleum products worth N181.6M in Adamawa

From Umar Dankano, Yola.

The Operation Whirlwind of the Nigerian Customs has intercepted smuggled Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) known as petrol with the paid duty value (PDB) worth N181,603,515 in Adamawa state.

National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind,Assistant Comptroller of Customs, ACG Kolapo Oladeji disclosed the development at a press conference in Yola Thursday stressing that the customs has recorded significant milestone in the ongoing mission to protect the integrity of the country’s critical resources in line with the core mandates of the Nigeria Customs Service as enshrined in Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.

ACG Oladeji said that his men through intelligence driven operations conducted within eight (8) weeks in fifty five (55) instances made these seizures in some towns and villages in Adamawa state.

“I am pleased to inform you that within the period of eight (8) weeks, we have recorded fifty-five (55) instances of seizures with aggregate duty paid value (DPV) of one hundred and eighty-one million, six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty-one naira (N181,603,515) zero kobo.

“These seizures were made across various smuggling flashpoints of Adamawa State on different dates and time. These locations include Mubi-Sahuda axis, Farang-Belel, Gurin-Fufore Axis, Maihia, Wuro Bokki, Ribado waterways, Muninga and Bakin Kogi.

“The sized Items include; 184,006 Litres of PMS packed in 2,642 Jerry cans of 25 litres capacity each, 11,256 Litres of PMS deposited in a filling station and 485 drums of 220 litres capacity each intended to be smuggled out of the Country as well as two Large wooden boats, the means of conveyance of some of these seized PMS.

“This operation is geared towards energy and food security to foster economic growth in line with the core mandates of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu .Oladeji disclosed.

He explained that in line with these mandates, the Operation Whirlwind zone ‘D’ had repositioned all its machineries across the area of its responsibilities and ensuring that the border become airtight.

He noted that ,this had made it more difficult for economic saboteurs to carry out their smuggling activities regrettably announced that, despite series of warning to the public regarding wonton attack on operatives who are genuinely discharging their statutory duties, the cases of mob attack on the officer is still at surge.

“On Sun 19 Oct 25 at about 0100hrs, the smugglers lunched yet another attack on the operatives along Belel-Farang axis while discharging their statutory duty but no casualty was recorded as a result of professionalism displayed by our operatives.

“Let me state unequivocally that, we will not relent in our aggressive anti-smuggling drives and we will ensure that the supply chains of these economic wreckers are truncated in accordance with enabling laws. This fight had no doubt helped in transforming the nation’s economy and strengthening security of our borders”.

“Let us reunite our energies together to fight this smuggling cartels head-on within the confines of the law. If you see something say something. Let keep the ball rolling. Together we can build a nation where smuggling activities will be seen as a forbidden cake”.ACG Oladeji declared.