Fuel Smuggling: Customs Operation Whirlwind Intercepts ₦273m Petrol, Makes ₦35m Seizures in Lagos, Ogun
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Operation Whirlwind , has intercepted petroleum products worth ₦273,940,000 across various zones and recently made a seizures of 28,300 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) worth ₦35,800,000 Duty Paid Value (DPV) between January 11 and February 23, 2025 at the Lagos and Ogun axis.
According to the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi who disclosed this to journalists on 28th February, 2025 at the FOU, Ikeja, Lagos said the seized PMS were diverted through various concealment methods and smuggling techniques.
He said the service’s comprehensive analysis of the pattern of seizures across the Lagos/Ogun axis reveals significant insights into the dynamic smuggling tactics and dominant routes being exploited by the economic saboteurs.
He noted that the seizures were strategically executed at identified smuggling corridors including: Badagry-Seme corridor, Imeko-Afan Axis, Ilaro-Ojodan Network and Owode-Ajilete Route.
The CGC added that the operational data reveals several emergent trends in smuggling tactics that warrant particular attention which are : temporal pattern shifts, community-based Storage, vehicle modifications and multiple small-volume movements.
Speaking further, he said the tactical operations yielded the following seizures: One Thousand and Fifty-Seven (1,132) Jerry Cans of 25 liters each, totaling 28,300 liters, Three (3) vehicles used as means of conveyance, including: One Toyota Camry with Chassis No. JTDAT1237101922C7, One Volkswagen with Registration No. LAGOS-AAA-928FY and Chassis No. WVW222312LE114785 and one Toyota Camry with Chassis No. 4T1BG22KXXU582542.
The Customs boss announced that NCS, with support from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), established a special operation codenamed “Whirlwind” in collaboration with the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). This strategic partnership has significantly intensified surveillance and enforcement operations across critical border corridors nationwide.
He explained that in less than three months, Operation Whirlwind has yielded remarkable results with cumulative seizures of 245,370 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) valued at NGN 238,140,000 and that these figures exclude seizures made through regular command structures and Federal Operations Units. He said he has previously presented these operational successes in Adamawa State on January 30, 2025, where the service’s officers intercepted 199,495 liters valued at N199,495,000, and in Kwara State on February 17, 2025, with additional seizures of 45,875 liters worth N38,645,000.
Adeniyi revealed that consequently , the service will be implementing the following strategic initiatives in the coming weeks; Deployment of advanced surveillance technology along identified high-risk corridors, establishment of additional tactical response teams with specialized training in petroleum products interdiction, enhanced community engagement programs to foster greater cooperation from border communities and implementation of an intelligence-driven risk assessment framework to optimize resource allocation.
“Our latest operational achievements in this critical zone, which serves as both our nation’s commercial nerve center and a high-risk corridor for cross-border smuggling activities due to its strategic location along our western frontier with the Republic of Benin.
“The cumulative impact of Operation Whirlwind since its inception is substantial. Across the three operational zones where I have presented reports this year—Adamawa/Taraba Command, Kwara Command, and now Lagos Zone “A”—we have successfully intercepted a total of 273,670 liters of petroleum products with a combined value of ₦273,940,000. These figures represent not just statistical achievements but tangible protection of our national economy and energy security.
“Let me reemphasise that the successful implementation of Operation Whirlwind highlights the critical importance of strategic inter-agency collaboration in addressing complex national security challenges. This collaborative framework, championed by the National Security Adviser and vigorously supported by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Characterizes the administration’s proactive stance on security governance. The President’s directive on preemptive response to early warning signals of security threats has fundamentally transformed our operational approach, enabling seamless intelligence sharing and coordinated tactical responses across security and regulatory agencies.
“Our partnership with the NMDPRA and support from ONSA has enhanced our operational effectiveness through intelligence sharing, coordinated enforcement actions, and harmonized strategic planning. Moving forward, we intend to expand this collaborative framework to include additional stakeholders, particularly the Nigerian Navy for enhanced maritime domain awareness, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps for critical infrastructure protection, and border communities for improved intelligence gathering.
“There will be no safe haven for smugglers in our operational areas. We shall maintain this momentum and continue to adapt our strategies to counter the dynamic tactics of these economic saboteurs. We will deploy additional resources and adopt even more stringent measures to ensure that petroleum products meant for domestic consumption are secured for the benefit of all Nigerians.
“I must commend the dedication and courage of the Operation Whirlwind team in Zone A, and indeed all officers deployed to Operation Whirlwind across the nation. Their vigilance, integrity, and commitment to duty is commendable in the face of significant operational challenges and risks.
“NCS will continue to protect Nigeria’s economic interests and ensure that the benefits of government policies reach all citizens. We shall continue to justify the confidence reposed in us by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration.”, he said.
