Nigeria Customs Service Seizes 34,470 Litres of Petrol at Taraba-Cameroon Border
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified its efforts against fuel smuggling, leading to a significant operation in Taraba State. The Operation Whirlwind unit of the NCS recently confiscated 34,470 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, in the border communities of Gembu and Kan-Iyaka.
The operation targeted Gembu, the administrative center of Sardauna Local Government Area, and Kan-Iyaka, a known transit route into Cameroon. These areas have been identified as hotspots for illicit fuel smuggling activities. During a public auction of the seized items in Jalingo, Comptroller General of the NCS, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed that the operation led to the confiscation of 1,149 jerry cans, each containing 30 liters of PMS, totaling 34,470 liters. Additionally, a specialized transportation truck used in the smuggling operations was seized.
The success of this operation was attributed to the collaborative efforts between the NCS, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and technical support from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). Comptroller General Adeniyi highlighted that inter-agency intelligence identified unusual movement patterns across the Dorofi and Kan-Iyaka axis between March 8 and 9, 2025. This intelligence led to coordinated interceptions that disrupted emerging smuggling corridors
Fuel smuggling poses significant threats to Nigeria’s economy and national security. The diversion of subsidized fuel intended for domestic consumption to neighboring countries undermines economic stability and can lead to fuel scarcity, affecting local industries and daily activities. Comptroller General Adeniyi emphasized that petrol scarcity could slow down economic activities, urging residents and stakeholders to cooperate with the government to ensure the gains recorded in the petroleum distribution system for local consumption are not reversed.
The NCS remains committed to curbing smuggling activities through sustained intelligence gathering and inter-agency collaboration. Public cooperation is deemed essential in this fight, as community members play a crucial role in providing information and supporting enforcement actions. The recent success in Taraba State serves as a deterrent to smugglers and reinforces the NCS’s dedication to safeguarding Nigeria’s resources and economic interests.
The seizure of 34,470 liters of petrol at the Taraba-Cameroon border underscores the Nigeria Customs Service’s intensified efforts to combat fuel smuggling. Through strategic intelligence and collaboration with other agencies, the NCS continues to protect Nigeria’s economy and ensure the availability of essential resources for its citizens.