– Auctions over 15,000 liters of confiscated PMS
Esther Oritse
Lagos — The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), through its Operation Whirlwind Unit, has stated that the recent hike in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, has significantly curbed smuggling activities involving the commodity.
Operation Whirlwind, established to combat the illegal movement of petrol from Nigeria to neighboring countries, has recorded notable success.
Speaking during the auction exercise of seized petroleum products in Lagos over the weekend, Assistant Comptroller General of Customs and National Coordinator of the Unit, Hussain Ejibunu, disclosed that the positive impact of the price adjustment and the proactive measures taken by the Customs Service brought about a drop in the illegal trade of PMS by unscrupulous elements.
Ejibunu revealed that the unit, led by Assistant Controller M.I. Bello, seized a total of 613 jerry cans of PMS from various locations around Lagos and neighboring states.
Since its inception in May, the operation has made significant progress in deterring smugglers.
“The new pump price has played a crucial role in reducing smuggling activities,” Ejibunu said. “It is now costlier for smugglers to buy fuel at the station and attempt to move it out of the country. As a result, the volume of smuggled fuel has dropped significantly.”
Despite the progress, Ejibunu noted that no arrests were made in connection with this particular seizure. Smugglers, he explained, continually devise new methods to evade detection, such as hiding jerry cans in secluded areas, transferring them to smaller tankers, and using vehicles to transport them to their destinations.
Ejibunu also emphasized the Customs Service’s efforts to penalize complicit fuel stations that sell products to smugglers. “Fuel stations found aiding smugglers are sanctioned and reported to the Directorate of Petroleum Resources under the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which has led to the withdrawal of their licenses or closure of their operations,” he said.
While acknowledging that smuggling has not been entirely eradicated, the Assistant Comptroller General affirmed that the quantum of illegal fuel movement has drastically reduced. He further urged Customs operatives to maintain their vigilance and sustain the tempo in the fight against smugglers.
The auctioning of over 15,000 liters of confiscated PMS serves as a testament to the Customs Service’s determination to curb smuggling and ensure compliance with regulations.
