Customs Impounds 67,000 Litres of PMS Worth N84m

Amid the fuel hike in fuel price in Nigeria, Operation Whirlwind of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 67,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol, valued at N84, 870,000,000 from smugglers.

In a statement, NCS said few months into the ongoing operations Whirlwind, appreciable results have been recorded, particularly in tackling smuggling of PMS.

The statement reads: “The operation Whirlwind exercise has no doubt saved the country huge resources and enhanced national security as the smuggling of PMS out of the country through Kwara land borders has been considerably curtailed.

“Our operatives comprising of enforcement officers and Customs Intelligent Unit (CIU) covering Niger/Kwara axis has continued to record large number of seizures and arrests.

“On 17th and 18th September, 2024, respectively, My team along Gwanara axis of the state, intercepted 38 and 61 Kegs of 25 liters of PMS respectively, Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) en route Benin Republic with a duty paid value of Two Million Nine hundred and seventy thousand naira (N2, 970,000.00)

“Similarly, on Monday, 30th Sept, 2024, a team of officers led by Chief Superintendent of Customs Waziri Mohammed at about 1130pm around Gure/kusoboso intercepted 90 kegs of 25 liters of PMS with a duty paid value of Two Million Seven Hundred Thousand (N2,700,000.00)”.

Other notable seizures made by the operatives include two trucks with registration number FST-524 XG and JJJ-14-XQ respectively, stocked with 33,000 liters each of PMS all intended for smuggling worth N79, 200, 000.000.

The two tankers have been handed over to Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency (NMDPRA) for further investigation.