Customs Intercepts Over 10,000 Litres of Smuggled Petrol in Lagos

• NCS intercepted 10,970 litres of smuggled PMS in Lagos on New Year’s Eve.
• Smugglers used sacks to conceal fuel, a first for Operation Whirlwind.
• Military support ensured safe removal, with plans for auctioning the fuel.

The Zone A Operation Whirlwind Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Lagos recently intercepted smugglers attempting to transport over 10,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) concealed in sacks.

EKO HOT BLOG reportsIn a statement, the Commander of Operation Whirlwind, Assistant Comptroller of Customs Mahmood Bello, revealed that the operation occurred on New Year’s Eve. Customs operatives were conducting surveillance along the waterside in Badagry when they intercepted 61 sacks and seven jerry-cans of PMS loaded onto a large canoe heading for the Benin Republic.

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Bello stated that the smugglers had revived an old technique of hiding PMS in sacks, a method not previously encountered during Operation Whirlwind. Earlier seizures involved fuel transported in jerry-cans.

He explained: “On December 31, 2024, our team intensified efforts as directed by the National Coordinator to curb smuggling during the festive period. While monitoring the Badagry waterside, we intercepted 61 sacks and seven jerry-cans, totaling 10,970 litres of PMS. The operation was successful with no casualties, despite resistance from the smugglers.”

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Each sack contained 150 litres, and the products were safely evacuated with reinforcement from the Nigerian military stationed at the Badagry Barracks.

Due to the volatile nature of the seized fuel, Bello confirmed that the National Coordinator had ordered its auctioning. This interception underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Customs in combating smuggling along Nigeria’s borders.

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