Operation Whirlwind: Nigeria Customs Seizes over 53,000 Litres of Smuggled Petrol Worth ₦53m in Kwara
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), through its ‘Operation Whirlwind’ intercepted over 53,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol worth ₦53 million between January 14 and February 11, 2025, in Kwara State.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi who disclosed this during a press briefing at the Kwara Command on Monday, February 17, 2025, decried the criminality of fuel smuggling, describing it as a “direct threat to Nigeria’s economic stability and national security.”
His words: “Despite the removal of fuel subsidies, we continue to witness the exploitation of price disparities between Nigeria and neighbouring countries. This illegal trade not only undermines government policies but also affects ordinary Nigerians by inflating fuel costs and creating artificial scarcity.”
Comptroller Adeniyi disclosed that as of February 10, 2025, petroleum was sold at ₦1,184.83 per litre in Nigeria, compared to ₦1,680.32 per litre in Benin and ₦2,030.89 per litre in Cameroon.
“The significant price difference has encouraged large-scale smuggling, creating a black market economy that deprives Nigeria of critical resources.
“This is not just about revenue loss; it is about economic sabotage. Every litre smuggled out of Nigeria is a litre that could have powered local industries, facilitated transportation, and supported small businesses.
“Through intelligence-driven operations and routine patrols, the Service’s operatives have successfully intercepted smuggled fuel across Gure road, Bankubu, Illesha Baruba axis, and Kayama forest,” he remarked.
The Customs boss noted that following the statistics on the seizures between January 14 to February 11, the Service on Friday, January 14, seized 94 jerry cans (2,350 litres) of PMS at Gure Road, valued at ₦2.35 million.
“On February 5th, 162 jerry cans (4,050 litres) of PMS were intercepted at Kayama forest in a Nissan Pickup (MHA556FD), driven by Nafiu Salami (now under administrative bail), with a DPV of ₦4.05 million. February 11: 33,000-litre tanker truck intercepted along Siya Buriya road, valued at ₦33 million,” he noted.
CGC Adeniyi acknowledged that the evolving tactics of smugglers require more than traditional enforcement approaches, explaining that the NCS, through Operation Whirlwind, has adopted a technology-driven strategy, combining real-time intelligence, advanced surveillance systems, and strategic community engagement to track and disrupt smuggling networks.
“Smuggling networks are becoming more sophisticated, but so are we. With the deployment of digital monitoring tools, enhanced risk management frameworks, and proactive intelligence-sharing, we are closing in on economic saboteurs,” he assured.
The Customs leader also pledged to sustain the momentum of its anti-smuggling operations nationwide, urging border communities, fuel marketers, and stakeholders to support the fight against illegal fuel trade.
“We will continue to collaborate with relevant agencies, including the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), to ensure compliance and protect Nigeria’s economic interests,” he further said.
He equally warned those involved in fuel smuggling to reconsider their actions, stating that the full weight of the law will be deployed against them.
