Customs Dismantles Smuggling Network, Seizes 34,470 Litres of PMS Along Adamawa-Taraba Border
…As CGC Authorises Public Auction at Subsidised Rate
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 34,470 litres of smuggled Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) along the Adamawa and Taraba border corridors, in a major operation aimed at dismantling a sophisticated smuggling network.
Acting on intelligence, operatives seized 1,149 jerrycans of PMS alongside a specially modified transport vehicle valued at N4 million, bringing the total duty-paid value of the confiscated items to N37.78 million.
Speaking at a press briefing in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, on Thursday, 13th March 2025, the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adeniyi, described the operation as a strategic response to the growing sophistication of transnational smuggling networks.
He underscored the economic and security implications of such illegal activities. “Our intelligence-led operations have revealed that this corridor is a strategic transit point for cross-border petroleum diversion,” Adeniyi said. “The economic implications extend beyond revenue losses — it disrupts supply chains, fuels artificial scarcity, and undermines regional security.”
Adeniyi issued a stern warning against internal collusion, noting that some Customs officers and members of border communities were aiding smugglers.
“We have intelligence that some officers and community members are facilitating these activities. We will dig deeper into this and ensure that those involved face the full wrath of the law,” he declared.
Reaffirming the NCS’s commitment to combating smuggling, the Comptroller of Customs, Adamawa/Taraba Command, Garba Bashir, highlighted the dangers of illicit trade.
“Smuggling weakens legitimate trade, encourages revenue loss, increases crime, and endangers our citizens. The operatives of Operation Whirlwind, under the leadership of the Comptroller General, have intensified efforts to dismantle these smuggling networks,” Bashir stated.
The Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Hussaini Ejibunu, highlighted the efficiency of intelligence-driven operations, revealing that the seizures were made within three hours.
“This is an intelligence-based operation, not one conducted at fixed checkpoints. The results you see today confirm that Taraba is being used as a conduit for smuggling,” he explained.
Ejibunu also urged community members to support the fight against smuggling. “There is no hiding place for criminals. Anyone caught will be prosecuted. We urge the public: if you see something, say something,” he added.
To mitigate the effects of smuggling-induced fuel shortages, the Comptroller General of Customs directed that the seized petroleum products would be sold to citizens at a subsidised rate.
This measure, Adeniyi noted, aims to cushion the impact of artificial scarcity and ensure that fuel reaches the public at a fair price.
