In a determined effort to dismantle illicit petroleum smuggling networks along Nigeria’s northeastern border, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted a massive cache of petroleum products and vehicles worth over ₦63 million during a five-week-long enforcement sweep in Adamawa State.
The crackdown, code-named Operation Whirlwind, was strategically executed in smuggling-prone zones across Dasin-Fufore, Belel-Farang, Mubi-Sahuda, Maiha, and Girei-Wuro Bokki—communities situated close to the Nigeria-Cameroon border.
Speaking during a press briefing at the Customs House in Yola on Friday, Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) of Customs, H.K. Ejibunu, who represented the Comptroller-General of Customs, revealed that the operation led to the seizure of 1,959 jerry cans of petrol, estimated at nearly 49,000 litres, along with five vehicles used to transport the smuggled fuel.
The total duty-paid value of the confiscated items stood at ₦63,046,750, according to Ejibunu, who noted that many of the smugglers abandoned their goods and fled upon spotting Customs enforcement agents.
“These seizures are a clear signal that the Nigeria Customs Service will not relent in its mandate to suppress smuggling and protect the economic integrity of the nation,” he stated.
Ejibunu highlighted that Operation Whirlwind is in full alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic and security reforms, particularly the administration’s renewed efforts to strengthen energy security and eliminate artificial fuel scarcity created by cross-border diversion.
He emphasized that illegal fuel smuggling not only deprives the nation of revenue but also directly sabotages local economic growth by inflating petrol prices and disrupting domestic supply chains.
“Stopping this criminal activity supports the President’s vision for energy stability and food security,” Ejibunu added.
Due to the flammable nature of the intercepted petrol, the Customs official confirmed that the products will be auctioned immediately in accordance with the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023. Proceeds from the auction will be deposited into the federation account, in line with fiscal accountability measures.
This approach aligns with Nigeria’s regulatory framework, which mandates timely disposal of volatile goods to avoid environmental or safety risks.
ACG Ejibunu urged residents in border communities to act as critical partners in the fight against economic sabotage by reporting suspicious movements, particularly in isolated or forested areas often used as illegal transit routes.
He also commended the role of stakeholders such as the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and the media in providing strategic support and visibility to anti-smuggling campaigns.
“Border communities must understand that smuggling is not only illegal—it is a direct threat to national development,” he warned.
Adamawa State, due to its extensive and porous border with Cameroon, has remained a notorious hotspot for fuel smuggling operations. Criminal syndicates routinely exploit poorly patrolled rural routes to divert subsidized petrol, which is then sold at inflated prices across the border.
In recent years, fuel smuggling has surged in the wake of fluctuating local pump prices, increased demand in neighboring countries, and loopholes in surveillance. According to previous Customs reports, Adamawa and Taraba States accounted for nearly 70% of cross-border fuel seizures in the North-East as of late 2024.
The Customs Service reiterated that fuel smuggling, though often perceived as an economic offense, also poses a national security risk, as proceeds from such operations have been linked to arms trafficking and the financing of criminal insurgent groups in the region.
The NCS has pledged to intensify inter-agency cooperation, leverage new surveillance technologies, and deploy more personnel to difficult terrains where smuggling thrives.
The success of Operation Whirlwind underscores the commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service to stamping out fuel smuggling rings that threaten both Nigeria’s economic integrity and national security. Authorities continue to warn smugglers that they will be met with stiff resistance and legal consequences, as the nation ramps up border enforcement and fiscal protection.