In a major crackdown on fuel smuggling, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 34,470 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and a heavy-duty truck in Taraba State’s border communities of Gembu and Kan-Iyaka.
The operation, carried out by the NCS’s Operation Whirlwind Unit, was intelligence-driven and targeted a growing smuggling network operating along the Dorofi and Kan-Iyaka axis.
Speaking in Jalingo, Comptroller General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi revealed that the three-hour operation was based on intelligence from the inter-agency fusion center, which detected unusual fuel movement between March 8-9, 2025.
“Our intelligence-led intervention resulted in the seizure of 1,149 jerry cans of PMS, each containing 30 liters, totaling 34,470 liters,” Adeniyi stated. “Additionally, we confiscated a specialized smuggling truck worth N4 million, bringing the total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the operation to N37.78 million.”
The bulk of the seized fuel was intercepted in Gembu, a known smuggling hub, while 180 jerry cans and the truck were stopped en route to Kan-Iyaka, near the Cameroon border.
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Adeniyi warned that fuel smuggling threatens national security and disrupts local petroleum distribution.
He urged residents and stakeholders to support government efforts in stabilizing fuel availability.
“Petrol is a vital economic driver. If smuggling networks go unchecked, they could undermine national energy security and disrupt economic activities,” he added.
This latest operation underscores the Customs Service’s commitment to curbing smuggling activities and protecting Nigeria’s economic interests.