Nigeria Customs Service Cracks Down on Fuel Smuggling, Seizes Thousands of Liters of PMS

By Lod Onyeji

In a significant blow to economic sabotage, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized over 39,000 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, worth N63.4 million, in a crackdown on smuggling activities along the Lagos-Ogun axis. 

The seized PMS, intended for smuggling to neighboring Benin Republic, was confiscated across various flashpoints, including Ilaro, Imeko, Badagry, Owode, and Ajilete.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, represented by Assistant Comptroller General HK Ejibunu, announced the seizure at a press briefing, highlighting the NCS's commitment to disrupting smuggling activities and protecting the nation's economy. 

This latest operation is part of the NCS's Operation Whirlwind, which has achieved significant milestones across all zones in the past year.

Adeniyi emphasized that there is no safe haven for smugglers and economic saboteurs, as the NCS continues to work tirelessly to reduce their activities to the barest minimum. 

In a show of transparency and accountability, the Comptroller-General directed that the seized PMS be auctioned to Nigerian citizens immediately after the press briefing, with a 25-liter jerrycan selling for N10,000.

The NCS's success in this operation is attributed to its strategic partnerships with the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and the Office of the Attorney General. These collaborations have been instrumental in bringing smugglers to their knees and protecting the nation's economy.

This latest seizure is part of a broader effort by the NCS to curb smuggling and promote legitimate trade practices. The auction of seized PMS is expected to benefit Nigerian citizens and further underscore the NCS's commitment to transparency and accountability.