Operation Whirlwind Seizes 67,000 Litres Of Petrol In Kwara
Customs officers attached to the Operation Whirlwind have seized 67,000 litres of petrol worth N84.8 million in the Kwara/ Niger States axis of the Kwara Command of the Nigeria Customs Service.
Recall that the ‘Operation Whirlwind’ was launched in May this year to fight illegal trade of petroleum products across the nation’s borders and the exercise is being coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
National Coordinator of ‘Operation Whirlwind’, Comptroller Hussaini Ejibunu, in a statement that was made available to Team@orientactualmags.com by spokesman for Kwara Area Command of the NCS, Mr Zakari Chado, said the seized PMS had since been auctioned to members of the public.
“ A few months into the ongoing Operation Whirlwind, appreciable results have been recorded, particularly in the area of illegal smuggling of petroleum motor spirit (PMS).
The operation under Comptroller Hussaini Ejibunu’s leadership took a definitive step to put Nigeria on the path to suppress smuggling of PMS out of the country through the exercise. 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 officers comprising enforcement officers and Customs Intelligent Unit (CIU) covering Niger/Kwara axis have continued to record large number of seizures and arrests. On 17th and 18th September, 2024, respectively, my team along Gwanara axis of Kwara State, intercepted 38 and 61 Kegs of 25 liters of PMS respectively, en route Benin Republic with a duty paid value of N2, 970,000.00.
Similarly, on Monday, 30th Sept, 2024, a team of officers led by Chief Superintendent of Customs Waziri Mohammed at about 11.30pm around Gure/Kosubosu intercepted 90 kegs of 25 liters of PMS with a duty paid value of N2,700,000.00’ he said.
The statement added that other notable seizures made by Operation Whirlwind include two trucks with registration number FST-524 XG and JJJ-14-XQ respectively stocked with 33,000 liters each, filled with PMS all intended for smuggling out with a duty paid value of N79, 200, 000.000.
The total Duty Paid Value of the seizure is N84, 870,000,000 . The action of the smugglers contravenes Section 245 and 254 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023’ he added-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com. Thank you.
