Customs seizes 60,000 litre fuel tanker suspected of smuggling
Story by Okafor Vivian
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted a tanker carrying 60,000 litres of petrol suspected to be headed for smuggling across the border.
The tanker was intercepted on September 30 along Jibia Road by the NCS’s special task force, Operation Whirlwind. The National Coordinator of the task force, ACG Kola Oladeji, disclosed this during the handover of the tanker to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in Katsina. He was represented by AC Sa’ad Isah-Yahaya, Commander for the Kano/Jigawa and Katsina axis.
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According to Oladeji, the operation was part of a broader effort to curb petroleum smuggling and enforce national energy regulations. “The tanker, suspected to be en route to a border area for illegal diversion, was apprehended due to a fake manifest and improper documentation,” he said.
He emphasized the NCS’s commitment to implementing government directives against fuel smuggling and ensuring that all petroleum products meant for domestic consumption remain in Nigeria. “This handover highlights our determination to safeguard national energy security and work closely with agencies like NMDPRA. Economic sabotage through fuel diversion will not be tolerated,” Oladeji stated.
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Receiving the tanker, NMDPRA Katsina State Coordinator Mohammed Omar commended the NCS for its vigilance and inter-agency collaboration. He noted the importance of coordinated efforts in regulating the sector, saying, “NMDPRA remains committed to proper monitoring, accountability, and compliance within the petroleum sector.”
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