The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted more than 635,132 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, over the past six months, as part of a nationwide anti-smuggling initiative, Operation Whirlwind. The seizures, carried out across multiple states, underscore the agency’s intensified efforts to protect national revenue, safeguard energy supplies, and prevent economic sabotage.
Since October 2025, the NCS has intercepted PMS shipments at various smuggling points, including Lagos, Ogun, Kebbi, Adamawa, and Taraba states. The operation has targeted routes such as Ajilete, Ijoun, Haro, Badagry, Owode Idiroko, Eree Ado-Odo, Obada Imeko, Bagudo, Tsamiya, Kamba, Lolo, and Zuru/Mahakala, among others. Contraband has been seized in jerrycans, drums, and tankers, sometimes alongside other illicit goods, including second-hand clothing, rice, sugar, and vehicles.
In October, the NCS intercepted nearly 50,000 litres of PMS worth ₦80.4 million along Lagos and Ogun smuggling routes, while the Kebbi Area Command seized over 35,700 litres valued at more than ₦109 million. In December, over 284,000 litres were seized in Adamawa State alone, valued at over ₦181 million, with two large wooden boats also confiscated. In January, additional seizures included more than 50,000 litres of PMS and assorted contraband in Adamawa and Taraba states.
During a February handover ceremony at the Customs Training College in Ikeja, Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, represented by the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Deputy Comptroller-General Abubakar Aliyu, confirmed that 1,650 jerrycans of petrol worth ₦40.7 million were seized in Lagos and Ogun states. Three tankers carrying a total of 154,000 litres were also intercepted. The February operations also led to the arrest of eight suspects in connection with the seizure of 20,700 litres of PMS valued at ₦3.3 billion, along with 6,954 bags of rice, 77 bags of sugar, 3,362 jerrycans of vegetable oil, and 915 bales of used clothing.
In March, Operation Whirlwind seized 14,375 litres of petrol in Calabar, Cross River State, intended for export to Cameroon. The following week, 14,875 litres were auctioned in Ikeja, Lagos, after being intercepted along smuggling routes in Lagos and Ogun states.
According to the NCS, these intelligence-driven operations have dismantled organized smuggling networks and prevented illegal diversion of petrol destined for local consumption. Officials emphasized that the transportation and sale of petroleum products are strictly regulated to maintain energy security and protect the Nigerian economy from illicit activities.
The sustained seizures demonstrate the agency’s commitment to combating smuggling, enforcing border security, and preserving vital national resources. Operation Whirlwind remains active across key flashpoints nationwide, with continuous surveillance and enforcement measures in place to curb economic sabotage.
