The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Yola Command, has intercepted 41,425 litres of premium motor spirit (PMS), worth over N48.547 million, in Yola, Adamawa state.
Comptroller Husseini Kolawole Ejibunu, National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, addressed the press at the Customs House in Yola on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, highlighting recent achievements in the fight against PMS smuggling.
Since the launch of Operation Whirlwind on May 31, 2024, the operation has seen notable success, with a combined seizure of 280,135 litres of PMS, valued at over N195.5 million, announced by the Comptroller General of Customs.
The latest seizure included 1,481 kegs and 20 drums of PMS, totaling 41,425 litres, intercepted along critical smuggling routes. The confiscated goods, along with nine means of conveyance, have a cumulative Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N48.5 million.
Operation Whirlwind is a collaborative effort involving the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), ensuring thorough monitoring of PMS supply and distribution.
Despite facing threats and harassment, Ejibunu reaffirmed the commitment of Operation Whirlwind to its mission, urging PMS smugglers to reconsider their actions and pursue legitimate businesses.
The successes of Operation Whirlwind are attributed to the supportive environment created by the Nigeria Customs Service and the cooperative efforts of the Adamawa/Taraba Area Command and other security agencies.
Ejibunu concluded with a stern warning to PMS smugglers, assuring that the fight against illegal exportation would persist unabated.
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