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Operation Whirlwind: Nigeria Customs Service Cracks Down on Petrol Smuggling
By prince Benson Davies
The Nigeria Customs Service’s Operation Whirlwind has dealt another significant blow to petrol smugglers, seizing 39,425 litres of the product in a recent operation. Led by Assistant Comptroller-General HK Ejibunu, the unit’s efforts are aimed at preventing revenue loss and disrupting smuggling networks. This latest seizure is a testament to the unit’s commitment to protecting the country’s economy and promoting legitimate trade.
ACG Ejibunu addressing the press on Friday at the Customs Training school, Ikeja Lagos on the their most recent acheivements regarding the seizure of about 39,425 litres of premium motor spirit known locally as petrol.
The national coordinator said at the breifing that “About this time last week Friday, we were in Yola, Adamawa State Capital for similar exercise where we auctioned over forty-six thousand (46,000) liters of PMS which was seized by our gallant operatives in that zone”.
“Gentlemen of the press, on the instructions of the CGC, today has been earmarked for another of such exercises, resulting from seizures of premium motor spirit PMS made across various flash point around Ilaro, Imeko, Badagry, Owode, Ajilete etc, with investigations confirming they were intended to be smuggled to neighbouring country, Benin Republic”.
His words “A total of One Thousand Five Hundred and Seventy-Seven (1,577) Jerrycans of PMS twenty-five (25) litres each, amounting to Thirty-nine Thousand Four Hundred and Twenty-five (39,425) litres was seized as well as Eight (8) vehicles used as means of conveyance. The duty paid value of the PMS product seized stands at Thirty-nine Million Four Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Naira only (₦39,425,000.00) and that of the means of conveyance stands at Twenty-four million Naira Only (₦24,000,000) cumulatively amounting to Sixty-three million Four Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Naira Only (₦63,425,000)”.
The seized Jerrycans of premium motor spirit with the means of conveyance at the background.
ACG Ejibunu started that there is no safe haven or hiding place for
smugglers and economic saboteurs as he noted that the Operation Whirlwind will continue to disrupt all their illegal
activities, reducing them to the barest minimum.
The Q&A segment ACG Ejibunu noted that the collaboration with other government entities like the office of the National Security Adviser, NMDPRA, the office of the CGC and office of the Attorney General have added great impetus to the recorded successes in their operation.
He added that his men are secure, well protected, well remunerated and generally motivated to do their jobs, hence the rate of successes acheived. ACG Ejibunu also informed the press that proper geo-spatial intelligence is usually applied to detect the operations of the smugglers.
The ACG revealed that the process of prosecuting the people caught with the smuggled products is happening already and that the other two persons caught are being profiled to find out their level of involvement in the act. He noted that each 25 litres of the petroleum products is to be immediately sold at Ten Thousand Naira (₦10,000.00) only and that the means of conveyance are also being processed to be sold later.
He extends his appreciation to the ONSA, Office of the Attorney General, and NMDPRA officials for their consistent backing and collaborative efforts that have significantly enhanced the unit’s operational effectiveness.
