Kebbi fuel auction seizure sees Nigeria Customs auction 66,500 litres of PMS recovered in anti-smuggling operations across border routes

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kebbi State Command, has conducted a public auction of 66,500 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) seized during anti-smuggling operations across border communities in the state, in a move aimed at curbing economic sabotage and safeguarding national resources.

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The Kebbi fuel auction seizure exercise was disclosed by the Customs Area Controller, Muhammad Ibrahim, during a public auction and handover event held in Birnin Kebbi, where he explained that the recovered products were intercepted under Operation Whirlwind, a specialised enforcement initiative targeting cross-border smuggling and illegal diversion of petroleum products.

Operation Whirlwind, according to Ibrahim, remains a critical intervention designed to disrupt illicit supply chains and strengthen regulatory control in sensitive border corridors.

He noted that the seizures reflect ongoing efforts by the service to stabilise distribution and protect the national economy from unlawful activities.

The National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Aliyu Abubakar, revealed that the operation led to the interception of 864 jerrycans of petrol, equivalent to approximately 21,500 litres, recovered from multiple smuggling routes, including Bagudo, Kamba and Jega Road.

Abubakar further disclosed that a tanker conveying about 45,000 litres of petrol was also intercepted along the Jega axis after being allegedly diverted from its intended destination.

The tanker has since been transferred to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for further investigation and regulatory action.

A representative of the regulatory agency, Grace Dauda, cautioned that the diversion of petroleum products undermines supply stability and may attract sanctions in line with existing regulations.

She emphasised the importance of compliance within the downstream petroleum sector to ensure equitable distribution and market integrity.

The Customs Service maintained that the auction process was conducted transparently and in accordance with established procedures.

Authorities also reaffirmed their commitment to intensifying surveillance and enforcement operations across border communities in Kebbi State to deter smuggling activities and related economic crimes.

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The Kebbi fuel auction seizure underscores the growing pressure on enforcement agencies to combat illicit fuel trade, which continues to pose challenges to national supply chains and revenue protection efforts.