The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) worth over ₦21.6 million in Kebbi State, intensifying its crackdown on fuel smuggling across the Sokoto–Kebbi–Zamfara axis under Operation Whirlwind.
Speaking during a media briefing in Birnin Kebbi, the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Abubakar Lucky Aliyu, said the seizures were the result of intelligence-led operations targeting known smuggling flashpoints across Zone B.
Aliyu, who addressed journalists alongside the zonal commander, Ntongha Edet, and the Kebbi Area Controller, Mahmoud Matawalle Ibrahim, disclosed that a total of 864 jerrycans of PMS—each containing 25 litres—were intercepted during coordinated enforcement operations.
The seizures were made across multiple locations including Bagudo Axis, Tsamiya, Jega/Kamba, Zaria Kala-Kala, Maje, Dakin Gari, Dakingari, and Tuger Waterside. According to him, the total volume recovered stood at 21,600 litres, with an estimated Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦21.6 million.
In a related development, the Customs also intercepted a tanker carrying 45,000 litres of PMS suspected to have been illegally diverted. The tanker, bearing registration number KLG 165 XA, was apprehended along Jega Road on March 6, 2026.
Aliyu explained that the product was originally destined for distribution in Katsina State, as indicated in the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) truck manifest, but was found off-route—suggesting illegal diversion.
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He said the tanker has since been handed over to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority for further investigation and regulatory action, in line with established procedures.
The Customs boss emphasized that the operation underscores the effectiveness of inter-agency collaboration, particularly with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the NMDPRA.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the NCS, under the leadership of Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, to dismantle smuggling networks and safeguard the nation’s economic stability.
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“Smuggling of petroleum products remains a significant challenge, often driven by economic disparities and the lure of quick illicit profits,” Aliyu said, assuring that efforts to combat the menace would be sustained.
He also commended officers of Operation Whirlwind for their professionalism, vigilance, and dedication, noting that their performance continues to strengthen public confidence in the Customs Service’s ability to protect Nigeria’s economic sovereignty.
