The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS has auctioned 22,175 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS seized along the Lagos-Ogun border corridor as part of efforts to curb the smuggling and illegal diversion of petroleum products.
The auction was conducted on Monday at the Customs Training College, Ikeja, and involved petroleum products intercepted by officers of Operation Whirlwind during recent anti-smuggling operations.
The seized products comprised 887 jerry cans, each containing 25 litres of petrol, alongside five vehicles allegedly used to transport the products.
According to the Service, the seizures were made at identified smuggling flashpoints, including Imeko, Ilara, Ilaro, Idiroko and Seme-Badagry.
The Duty Paid Value, DPV of the seized petroleum products and vehicles was put at approximately N32 million.
Speaking at the auction, the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Raphael Aliyu, said the exercise was conducted on the directive of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.
Aliyu said the auction demonstrated the Customs Service’s commitment to transparency and the lawful disposal of seized petroleum products.
He described Operation Whirlwind as a targeted initiative designed to prevent the diversion and illegal movement of petroleum products across Nigeria’s borders.
According to him, the operation is also aimed at protecting the nation’s economic interests and strengthening energy security by preventing petroleum products meant for domestic consumption from being illegally exported.
Aliyu said the Service had intensified surveillance, intelligence gathering and enforcement activities along routes identified as major channels for petroleum diversion and cross-border smuggling.
He assured that the crackdown would continue, stressing that Operation Whirlwind would remain “resolute, relentless and intelligence-driven.”
He added that the Customs Service would continue to track, intercept and dismantle smuggling networks, while suspects would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The coordinator commended officers of Operation Whirlwind Zone A for their efforts and acknowledged the support of the Office of the National Security Adviser, NSA and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA.
Aliyu also urged residents of border communities to support the authorities by providing timely intelligence on suspicious movements of petroleum products.
He stressed that effectively tackling petroleum smuggling required sustained collaboration between government agencies and local communities.
