The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has handed over a detained oil tanker carrying 60,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for further investigation over a suspected diversion operation.
The tanker, owned by Kitabu wa Sunnah Group of Company and bearing registration number TRN781XA, was intercepted by the Katsina Area Command in collaboration with Customs Operation Whirlwind after authorities suspected it had deviated from its authorised destination.
The handover ceremony took place at Lolo Dakare Garage, underscoring ongoing efforts by enforcement agencies to clamp down on the illicit movement of petroleum products across Nigeria’s borders.
Speaking during the exercise, Katsina Area Controller, Comptroller Saidu Musa, said the seizure highlighted the vigilance of Customs officers and their determination to protect the country’s economic interests.
He noted that the interception demonstrated the command’s commitment to enforcing regulations governing the movement of petroleum products and combating smuggling activities that undermine national revenue and energy security.
Musa stressed that the Nigeria Customs Service would continue to work closely with relevant government agencies to tackle economic sabotage and safeguard critical national resources.
He warned smugglers and their accomplices that intelligence-led operations would be intensified to detect, intercept and prosecute offenders.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Deputy Comptroller Aliyu Abubakar, praised the Katsina Area Command for its professionalism and dedication to the anti-smuggling initiative, describing the seizure as a significant achievement in the ongoing campaign against fuel diversion and cross-border trafficking.
Receiving the tanker on behalf of the regulator, Katsina State Coordinator of the NMDPRA, Umar Mohammed, commended the NCS for the interception and subsequent handover.
He said the operation reflected the importance of strong inter-agency collaboration in ensuring effective oversight of the petroleum sector.
Mohammed assured that the authority would carry out a thorough investigation and take all necessary regulatory actions in accordance with its statutory mandate.