…Seizes 34,470 Liters of Petrol, Heavy-Duty Truck in Three-Hour Operation
By Femi Bolaji, Jalingo
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Operation Whirlwind Unit, has intensified its crackdown on fuel smuggling, seizing 34,470 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and a heavy-duty transportation truck in the Gembu and Kan-Iyaka border communities of Taraba State.
Gembu, the headquarters of Sardauna Local Government Area (LGA), and Kan-Iyaka, a key transit route into Cameroon, have become hotspots for illicit fuel smuggling activities.
Speaking in Jalingo during a public auction of the seized items, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed that the operation was intelligence-driven and executed swiftly to disrupt a growing smuggling corridor.
Adeniyi explained that the inter-agency intelligence fusion center detected unusual movement patterns in the Dorofi and Kan-Iyaka axis between March 8-9, 2025. Acting on this intelligence, field teams conducted a series of coordinated interceptions, leading to a significant bust.
According to him: “The operational outcomes from these intelligence-led interventions led to the seizure of 1,149 jerry cans of PMS, each containing 30 liters, totaling 34,470 liters.
“Additionally, a specialized smuggling vehicle, valued at Four Million Naira (N4,000,000), was seized, bringing the total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the operation to Thirty-Seven Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty Thousand, Six Hundred Naira (N37,780,600).”
He further revealed that the bulk of the petrol was intercepted in Gembu, a critical smuggling hub, while 180 jerry cans and the transportation truck were seized en route to Kan-Iyaka, near the Cameroon border.
Adeniyi emphasized that fuel smugglers pose a serious threat to national security and should be of concern to all security agencies.
He urged residents and stakeholders to support government efforts in maintaining the stability of petroleum distribution for local consumption.
“Petrol is a key driver of the economy, and any disruption in its availability could slow down economic activities. The government remains committed to ensuring that smuggling networks do not undermine national energy security.”
The operation was conducted in collaboration with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and received technical support from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
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