The Nigeria Customs Service special team “Operation Whirlwind” has seized smuggled premium motor spirit (PMS) worth ₦63.036 million and five vehicles at unapproved routes between Adamawa, Nigeria and the Cameroon Republic.

Adewale Adeniyi, the customs comptroller general, disclosed this in Yola, Adamawa State capital, on Friday.

Mr Adeniyi, represented by Hussein Ejibunu, the national coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, said the success was in line with the core mandate of President Bola Tinubu.

“Operation Whirlwind had repositioned all its machinery across the area of its responsibilities and ensured that the border became watertight; this had made it difficult for economic saboteurs to carry out their smuggling activities,” he said.

According to him, the seized petrol will be auctioned to the public immediately due to its inflammable nature, as provided in the NCS Act, 2023 and the standard operating procedures, while the proceeds will be remitted into the federation account.

He appreciated security agencies and other stakeholders for their support and cooperation, and called on communities to provide useful information to address the menace of smuggling.

Adewumi Aliko, assistant legal adviser, Operation Whirlwind, office of the attorney general of the federation, said the federal government was committed to ensuring Nigerians got what they deserved, as the product was made for consumption in Nigeria, not smuggling.

She said any person caught would face the full weight of the law.

Adegbola Babatunde, manager for Truck Out, Nigeria NMDPRA, Abuja, also decried how marketers were releasing the product for smuggling out of the country.

According to him, the agency, in collaboration with NCS, is working together to deal with those involved in the smuggling of the product.

(NAN)