The Nigeria Customs Service on Monday auctioned 22,175 litres of Premium Motor Spirit intercepted by Operation Whirlwind along the Lagos–Ogun border axis, in a public sale held at the Customs Training College, Ikeja.
The fuel was seized in recent weeks after operatives, acting on intelligence, disrupted a network moving petrol toward neighbouring countries.
Officers recovered 887 jerry-cans of 25 litres each, together with five vehicles used to convey the product. The seizures were made at flashpoints including Imeko, Ilara, Ilaro, Idiroko and Seme-Badagry. The Duty Paid Value of the petrol and the means of conveyance was put at ₦32,175,000.
Deputy Comptroller of Customs Lucky Abu Aliyu, the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, speaking on the directive of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said the auction showed the Service’s commitment to transparency and to the lawful disposal of seized petroleum products.
“Operation Whirlwind is a targeted anti-smuggling initiative established to curb the illegal movement, diversion and cross-border smuggling of petroleum products,” the coordinator said.
“The operation is primarily focused on protecting Nigeria’s economic interests, strengthening national energy security, and ensuring that petroleum products meant for domestic consumption are not unlawfully diverted across the nation’s borders.”
He said Customs has tightened surveillance, intelligence gathering and enforcement along routes linked to the diversion and export of fuel. He thanked the Comptroller-General and the Service management, and acknowledged support from the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
He also commended officers of Operation Whirlwind Zone A for the interceptions.
Addressing those still involved in the trade, he warned that the operation would remain “resolute, relentless and intelligence-driven,” and that networks would continue to be identified, intercepted and dismantled, with suspects prosecuted under the law.
He appealed to residents of border communities to report suspicious movement of petroleum products, describing the fight against smuggling as a collective responsibility.
The auction was conducted under extant Customs procedures. Participants were urged to follow the guidelines so the sale would remain orderly and transparent.
Operation Whirlwind was set up to stop the illegal movement of petroleum products out of Nigeria. Monday’s sale covered only the Zone A (Lagos–Ogun) seizures presented at Ikeja.
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