The Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted more than 184,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit in Adamawa State, with a Duty Paid Value of N181 million.
The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, described the seizure as the largest ever recorded in the state.
The CG, who was represented by the national coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Assistant Comptroller General Kolapo Oladeji, said the haul resulted from intensified anti-smuggling activities under the special operation.
Briefing journalists in Yola on Thursday, ACG Oladeji said officers deployed under Operation Whirlwind Zone D’ carried out 55 separate interceptions within an eight-week period, amounting to a Duty Paid Value of N181.6 million.
He said most of the seizures occurred along established smuggling routes in the state, including Mubi–Sahuda, Farang–Belel, Gurin–Fufore, Maiha, Wuro Bokki, Ribadu waterways, Muninga and Bakin Kogi.
The confiscated petroleum products included 2,642 jerrycans of 25 litres of PMS, 11,256 litres stored in a filling station, and 485 drums of 220-litre capacity, all believed to be intended for illegal export.
He said the NCS also seized two large wooden boats used by smugglers to transport the product through waterways.
ACG Oladeji noted that the operation was not only aimed at curbing economic sabotage but also aligned with national priorities involving energy security, food security and overall economic stability.
He said the success of the operation reflects the Service’s strengthened resolve to enforce the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive on protecting national assets.
“These seizures are not just statistics. They represent fuel that would have been diverted into illicit markets outside the country, worsening fuel scarcity, creating artificial inflation, and undermining government revenue. By stopping them, we are directly protecting Nigeria’s economy,” he said.
Despite recent achievements, Oladeji raised concerns about ongoing attacks on Customs personnel by smugglers and their associates.
He referred to an incident on October 19, 2025, when operatives on duty along the Farang–Belel axis were attacked by a mob at about 1:00 a.m., commending the officers for maintaining professionalism and avoiding casualties while securing the seized PMS.
He warned that the Service would not succumb to intimidation, stressing that Operation Whirlwind has been strengthened to tighten border security and impede smuggling networks in the region.
“We will continue to dismantle the supply chains of these economic wreckers. Our operatives are trained, motivated and supported, and we will ensure the law is fully enforced,” Oladeji maintained.
The Customs chief also expressed appreciation to border communities, noting that their timely intelligence contributed significantly to the successful interceptions.
He encouraged residents to sustain their cooperation with security agencies, describing community involvement as essential to the national anti-smuggling effort.
