Illegal PMS Seized, Sold In Calabar By Nigeria Customs Service
NCS Cracks Down on Fuel Smuggling in Cross River
IN a major crackdown on petroleum smuggling, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) auctioned 14,375 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) on Wednesday in Calabar. The fuel had been intercepted en route to Cameroon by the agency’s special anti-smuggling taskforce, Operation Whirlwind.
Deputy Comptroller Abubakar Aliyu, National Coordinator for Zone C, disclosed that the confiscated fuel had a Duty Paid Value of ₦14.4 million. “Through sustained surveillance and intelligence, our team intercepted 235 jerry-cans of 25 litres and 40 drums of 200 litres each,” Aliyu said.
The seizures occurred across strategic locations including Ikang, Bakassi, Ikom, and Ikot-Idareka. Aliyu emphasized that such illicit exports threaten Nigeria’s economic stability and contravene national petroleum distribution laws.
Momoh Dauda, Comptroller of the River/Calabar Free Trade Zone/Akwa Ibom Area Command, noted that smuggling undermines legitimate trade and deprives the government of critical revenue. “Smuggling is economic sabotage. It distorts markets, threatens local businesses, and in some instances poses security and health risks,” Dauda stated.
He hailed the success of Operation Whirlwind as evidence of the value of intelligence-led enforcement, inter-agency cooperation, and dedication of personnel. Dauda warned that the NCS will continue to combat smuggling rigorously, ensuring that offenders face the full force of the law.
The auctioning of the intercepted PMS marks a significant milestone in ongoing efforts to secure Nigeria’s borders and safeguard the nation’s petroleum resources against illegal trade.
