KEY POINTS
- 1,980 jerrycans of petrol worth N80.4m seized.
- Seven vehicles used for smuggling intercepted.
- Filling station sealed over illegal fuel handling.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 1,980 jerrycans of petrol valued at N80.4 million that were allegedly being smuggled to the Republic of Benin.
National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Assistant Controller General of Customs Kola Oladeji, disclosed this in Ikeja on Tuesday while displaying the seized items to journalists. Oladeji said the contraband was recovered at several smuggling flashpoints across Lagos and Ogun states within the past seven weeks.
Operation Whirlwind, a special anti-smuggling task force of the NCS, targets petroleum product smuggling, hoarding, and related economic sabotage. It aligns with the federal government’s broader efforts to protect national resources and ensure local fuel availability.
Smugglers caught across border communities
According to Oladeji, the seized products 49,500 litres of petrol in total were intercepted in notorious smuggling corridors, including the Ajilete, Ijoun, Haro, Badagry, Owode Idiroko, Eree Ado-Odo, and Obada Imeko axes. The fuel, he said, was concealed and loaded in seven vehicles for illegal export before operatives, acting on credible intelligence, moved in.
Following the interceptions, further investigations led Customs officers to a retail outlet along Owode Apa Road in Badagry, Lagos, where “serious infractions” were detected. The station was immediately sealed for violating petroleum handling and storage laws.
A man was arrested during a perimeter patrol of the restricted site because he was acting suspiciously. He was later granted administrative bail pending investigation.
Crackdown continues amid tighter surveillance
Oladeji said the operation underscored the Service’s commitment to combating fuel smuggling and protecting Nigeria’s economy. “These achievements reaffirm our resolve to fight illicit trade that undermines national stability and public welfare,” he said.
He added that the NCS would continue to strengthen inter-agency cooperation. While he urged citizens to support efforts by reporting smuggling activities. “We remain steadfast in promoting vigilance and compliance,” he further said. “Every Nigerian has a role to play in safeguarding our national resources.”
