The Nigeria Customs Service said it had intercepted 34,470 litres of smuggled Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, along the Adamawa and Taraba border corridors.
In a recent statement, the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this during a press briefing in Jalingo, Taraba State capital, on Thursday.
Adeniyi explained that acting on intelligence, the operatives seized 1,149 kegs of petrol alongside a specially modified transport vehicle valued at N4m, “bringing the total duty-paid value of the confiscated items to N37.78m.”
He described the operation as a strategic response to the growing sophistication of transnational smuggling networks.
“Our intelligence-led operations have revealed that this corridor is a strategic transit point for cross-border petroleum diversion. The economic implications extend beyond revenue losses; it disrupts supply chains, fuels artificial scarcity, and undermines regional security,” Adeniyi said.
Adeniyi warned against internal collusion, stating, “We have intelligence that some officers and members of border communities are aiding smugglers. We will dig deeper into this and ensure that those involved face the full wrath of the law.”
Earlier, the Customs Area Controller in charge of Adamawa/Taraba Command, Garba Bashir, reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to combating smuggling, emphasising the dangers of illicit trade.
“Smuggling weakens legitimate trade, encourages revenue loss, increases crime, and endangers our citizens. The operatives of ‘Operation Whirlwind’, under the leadership of the Comptroller General, have intensified efforts to dismantle these smuggling networks,” he said.
The coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Hussaini Ejibunu, highlighted the efficiency of intelligence-led operations, revealing that the seizures were made within three hours.
“This is an intelligence-based operation, not one conducted at fixed checkpoints. The results you see today confirm that Taraba is being used as a conduit for smuggling,” he stated.
He further urged community members to support the fight against smuggling, warning that there is no hiding place for criminals.
He reiterated that anyone caught will be prosecuted.
