Customs: Operation Whirlwind Team Seized Petroleum Products Worth N81.517,570 in Adamawa/Taraba State

Customs : Operation Whirlwind team seized petroleum products worth N81.517,570 in Adamawa/Taraba states.

From Umar Dankano, Yola

The Nigerian Customs Service,NCS has seized smuggled petroleum motor spirit PMS products worth N81,517,570 in Adamawa/Taraba states Area Command.

National Coordinator of the Operation Whirlwind of the Customs, Comptroller Hussein K.Ejibunu made the disclosure while addressing the press in Yola Wednesday saying that the seizures were recorded by Operatives of the Zone D’ axis through uncompromising, unrelenting and collaborative efforts.

Comptroller Ejibunu announced that the seizures were recorded from the month of October to November 2024 listing the seized items to include; 1,124 Jerry Cans containing 25, 40 and 60 Litres of PMS, 53 drums of 200 litres capacity each filled with PMS.

Ejibunu added that, another sets of 5 vehicles and 2 motorcycles used for conveyance of the petroleum products and 2 fuel tankers conveying 71,965 litres with 21,000 in each tanker intended to be snuggled to the neighboring Republic of Cameroon were seized.

“For the period under review in the month after the last press briefing on 9th October, 2024, here in Yola, the team had witnessed significant seizures with monetary value of eighty-one million, five hundred and seventeen thousand, five hondred and seventy naira (N86,517,570).

“Still on the anti-muggling drives and in the spirit of inter-agency collaboration, the Operatives, had intercepted fourteen (14) fuel tankers loaded with PMS on the ground of product diversions and smuggling. Out of the 14 fuel tankers intercepted 13 were handed over to NMDPRA in Yola while one to NMDOPRA in Taraba State.

“The operation whirlwind team equally arrested a suspect in connection to smuggling activities and he is currently facing prosecution which made the anti-smuggling crusade of the Operation Whirlwind to allow Adamawa State to witness a stable and sufficient supply of PMS products.

“The operation (Whirlwind) team had repositioned all machineries across the nation’s frontiers to curtail the activities of illegal oil marketers.And Let me inform you that the PMS showcased today will he auctioned to the general public immediately after this briefing as a result of its inflammable nature as provided in the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023 and the Standard Operating Procedures while the proceed will be remitted into the federation account”. Ejibunu maintained.

While urging support and cooperation from patriotic Nigerians and the genuine oil Marketers, the National Coordinator Ejibunu reiterated that the Customs Service is committed to facilitate legitimate trade as contained in NCS Act 2023 as the fight is against the illicit oil marketers and the economic saboteurs.

According to him,the Whirlwind operation team had realized monetary value worth N500 Million from the auctioned petroleum motor spirit,PMS products seized from smuggling activities across the country since inception