The Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adeniyi, has launched a full-scale offensive against smugglers, deeming their illegal activities a significant threat to Nigeria’s national economy. Adeniyi, speaking in Yola at the Adamawa and Taraba Area Command, reaffirmed his confidence in the operations of Operation Whirlwind, a newly established division of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) specifically tasked with combating smuggling across the country.
Operation Whirlwind, which is equipped with specially trained personnel, is playing a crucial role in targeting and dismantling smuggling operations. During his visit, Adeniyi revealed that the Adamawa and Taraba Command had successfully intercepted and seized large quantities of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) worth N199,495,000. This seizure was part of a series of intelligence-driven operations executed across the Zone ‘D Axis, covering both Adamawa and Taraba.
According to Adeniyi, the operation led to the confiscation of 199,495 litres of PMS, hidden in various forms of concealment. The seized products included:
- Four fuel tankers carrying a total of 97,000 litres
- 1,363 jerry cans (25 litres each) totaling 34,075 litres
- 311 drums (220 litres each) amounting to 68,420 litres
Adeniyi emphasized that these seizures were made through coordinated, high-risk operations designed to combat sophisticated smuggling techniques, including the use of deceptive concealment methods. Additionally, he highlighted the success of strategic waterways interdictions, which led to the seizure of a significant shipment consisting of 311 drums and multiple jerry cans.
Reflecting on the ongoing impact of these efforts, Adeniyi pointed out that just two weeks ago, the NCS reported the seizure of 1,716,656 litres of petroleum products for the year ending in 2024. These products, originally intended for domestic use, were being illicitly diverted to neighboring countries via illegal routes and waterways.
In a broader statement on the future of the NCS under his leadership, Adeniyi vowed to continue strengthening the service’s operations by deploying more resources and employing stricter measures to ensure smugglers have no refuge. “We will adapt our strategies, enhance intelligence gathering, and work closely with other security agencies to tackle these economic saboteurs effectively,” he asserted.
Adeniyi also announced the installation of advanced surveillance cameras at the NCS headquarters in Abuja, designed to monitor the country’s borders remotely. He confirmed that some of the recent seizures, including those in Adamawa, were made possible through these cameras, which allowed for timely communication and enforcement of follow-up operations by local officials.
“We will employ every possible strategy to combat this economic sabotage,” Adeniyi concluded, reinforcing his commitment to fighting smuggling with all available tools at his disposal.
