Customs Auctions 22,175 Litres of Seized Petrol in Ikeja

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has publicly auctioned 22,175 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) seized by its anti-smuggling unit, Operation Whirlwind, along the Lagos-Ogun axis.

 

The seized petrol, together with five means of conveyance used by the smugglers, has a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N32.1 million.

 

The National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Deputy Comptroller Abubakar Aliyu, announced the auction on Monday at the Customs Training College, Ikeja, Lagos. He said it was conducted on the directive of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi.

 

According to Aliyu, the exercise reflects the service's commitment to transparency, accountability and prudent management of seized petroleum products, in line with extant laws and approved procedures.

 

Aliyu said operatives intercepted 887 jerry cans of 25 litres each, amounting to 22,175 litres, as well as five means of conveyance used for the smuggling.

 

He said the seizures were made at identified flashpoints, including Imeko, Ilara, Ilaro, Idiroko and Seme-Badagry, following credible and actionable intelligence.

 

Describing the operation as intelligence-driven and targeted, he put the combined DPV of the petrol and the means of conveyance at N32.1 million.

 

Aliyu said Operation Whirlwind is a targeted anti-smuggling initiative set up to curb the illegal movement, diversion and cross-border smuggling of petroleum products to neighbouring countries.

 

He said the NCS had intensified surveillance, strengthened intelligence gathering and stepped-up enforcement along major routes prone to the illegal diversion of petroleum products.

 

The operation, he added, is aimed at protecting Nigeria's economic interests, strengthening national energy security and ensuring that products meant for domestic consumption are not diverted.

 

Aliyu urged participants and stakeholders to adhere strictly to the established auction guidelines to ensure a fair, orderly and transparent exercise.

 

He commended the Comptroller-General and the NCS management for their strategic direction and support for the objectives of the operation. He also thanked the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for their continued collaboration.

 

He praised officers and men of Operation Whirlwind Zone A for their diligence, professionalism and commitment to duty.

 

Aliyu warned those engaged in smuggling and diversion that Operation Whirlwind remains resolute and intelligence-driven in dismantling smuggling networks. He appealed to border communities to provide timely and credible information on suspicious activities, noting that the fight against smuggling is a collective responsibility.

 

The Acting Commandant of the Customs Training College, Ikeja, Deputy Comptroller Patience Ita, who hosted the public auction, said the Comptroller-General had zero tolerance for the smuggling of petroleum products and other goods.

 

Ita said the exercise should serve as a warning to smugglers, noting that even small-scale smuggling of petroleum products could affect the national economy.