ZAINAB JUNAID
Operation Whirlwind team of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted and seized 28,300 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) worth N35.8 million. The seizures were made between January 11 and February 23, 2025, along Lagos/Ogun axis.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos on Monday, Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this information adding that the economic Saboteurs had developed new tactics and routes to evade detection.
He highlighted the seizures to include- One Thousand and Fifty-Seven (1,132) Jerry Cans of 25 liters each, totaling 28,300 liters; Three (3) vehicles used as a means of conveyance, including: One Toyota Camry with Chassis No. JTDAT1237101922C7; One Volkswagen with Registration No. LAGOS-AAA-928FY and Chassis No. WVW222312LE114785; One Toyota Camry with Chassis No. 4T1BG22KXXU582542.
According to him, the Service has identified four new smuggling corridors including –
Badagry/Seme Corridor: which accounts for 35% of total seizures, with multiple interceptions recorded along Badagry-Seme Road and Badagry waterside.
Imeko/Afan Axis: Emerges as a significant secondary corridor, with 25% of total seizures, particularly in Oloko Afan, Obada-idieimi, and other remote communities.-
Ilaro/Ojodan Network: Contributes 22% of intercepted products, with sophisticated smuggling attempts through Ojodan Road and Yerwa North areas.-
Owode/Ajilete Route: Responsible for 18% of seizures, with smugglers attempting to circumvent traditional enforcement positions.
CGC Adeniyi also revealed that the smugglers have adapted new tactics among which are- Temporal Pattern Shifts: Increased attempts during daylight hours, particularly between 0900hrs and 1400hrs.
Community-Based Storage- Establishment of small, distributed storage facilities within border communities.-
Vehicle Modifications: Use of specially modified vehicles with concealed compartments and falsified registration documentation.
Multiple Small-Volume Movements: Shift from large-volume single shipments to multiple small-volume movements using smaller containers.
Comptroller General of Customs CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR addressing journalists at the briefing in Ikeja, Lagos on Monday, 3 March 2025.
The Customs Boss lauded the dedication and courage of the Operation Whirlwind team, acknowledged the support of the National Security Adviser and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and also outlined future plans in addressing complex national security challenges.
His words, “Customs has successfully intercepted a total of 273,670 liters of petroleum products with a combined value of ₦273,940,000, across the three operational zones Adamawa/Taraba Command, Kwara Command, and Lagos Zone “A” in three months. These figures represent not just statistical achievements but tangible protection of our national economy and energy security.
“The President’s directive on preemptive response to early warning signals of security threats has fundamentally transformed our operational approach, enabling seamless intelligence sharing and coordinated tactical responses across security and regulatory agencies.
“The service plans to expand its collaborative framework to include additional stakeholders, such as the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.
“Future initiatives include- Deployment of advanced surveillance technology along identified high-risk corridors- Establishment of additional tactical response teams with specialized training in petroleum products interdiction- Enhanced community engagement programs to foster greater cooperation from border communities- Implementation of an intelligence-driven risk assessment framework to optimize resource allocation”.
CGC Adeniyi further warned that there would be no safe haven for smugglers in the operational areas, and the service would maintain its momentum and adapt its strategies to counter the dynamic tactics of the smugglers.
