Customs Operation Whirlwind Seizes 38,700 Litres Of Smuggled Fuel In Adamawa, Worth N63.1m

By Stella Okocha 

The Nigeria Customs Service, Operation Whirlwind, Zone D, has intercepted 38,700 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, intended to be smuggled out of the country through Adamawa border corridors.

National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Deputy Comptroller Abubakar Lucky Aliyu, who represented the Comptroller-General of Customs, disclosed this at a press conference at Customs House, Yola, on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.

Aliyu said following intelligence-driven operations over the past six weeks, operatives achieved significant breakthrough across key smuggling flashpoints including Malabu-Belel, Girei-Wuro Bokki, Gurin-Fufore, Wuro Alhaji-Maiha and Mubi-Sahuda axes.

According to him, 1,548 jerry cans of 25 litres each of PMS, totalling 38,700 litres, alongside one vehicle used for transporting the concealed fuel, were seized following actionable intelligence on illegal smuggling activities along the border corridors.

He put the aggregate Duty Paid Value, DPV, of the seized product and means of conveyance at Sixty-Three Million, One Hundred and Fifteen Thousand Naira, N63,115,000.

The Coordinator said smuggling and diverting fuel during a period of national energy distribution challenges inflicts severe economic harm and poses safety hazards to border communities.

He urged community leaders, traditional rulers and patriotic citizens to support law enforcement agencies with actionable intelligence and reject criminal elements in their communities.

Aliyu said all seizures were executed in compliance with Sections 150, 245, 246 and 248 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, noting that Section 150 empowers the Service to prevent illicit exportation of PMS, while Sections 245 and 246 provide for detention, seizure, condemnation and forfeiture of smuggled goods.

He announced that the seized PMS will be auctioned to the general public due to its inflammable nature in accordance with the Act, and proceeds remitted into the Federation Account.

He expressed gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and his management team for strategic guidance, the Office of the National Security Adviser, led by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for leadership and support, personnel of Operation Whirlwind Zone D, NMDPRA for technical support, patriotic citizens and the media for objective reportage.

“Finally, let this serve as a strong warning to economic saboteurs that Operation Whirlwind will not retreat, relent, or compromise in the fight against smuggling activities within the confines of the law, ensuring smuggling cartels are dismantled for the economy stability and growth,” Aliyu warned.