By Ben Adaji
Nigeria Customs Service special team “Operation Whirlwind” has ceased smuggled Premium Motor Spirit ,PMS, worth N63.036 million and five vehicles at unapproved routes between Adamawa, Nigeria and Cameron Republic.
Adewale Adeniyi, the Customs Comptroller- General disclosed this at the news briefing in Yola on Friday.
Adeniyi represented by Hussein Ejibunu, National Coordinator, Operation Whirlwind said, the success was in line with the core mandate of President Bola Tinubu.
“Operation Whirlwind had repositioned all its machineries across the area of its responsibilities and ensured that the border became watertight.
“This had made it difficult for economic saboteurs to carry out their smuggling activities”, he said.
According to him, the ceased PMS will be auctioned to the public immediately as a result of its inflammable nature as provided in the NCS Act, 2023 and the Standard Operating Procedures while the proceed will be remitted into the federation account.
He further appreciated security agencies and other stakeholders for their support and cooperation and call on communities to provide useful information towards addressing the menace of smuggling.
Mrs Adewumi Aliko, Assistant Legal Adviser, Operation Whirlwind, Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, said the Federal Government is committed to ensuring Nigerians get what they deserve as the product made for consumption in Nigeria not for smuggling. She said any person caught would face the full wrath of the law.
Mr Adegbola Babatunde, Manager Truck Out, Nigeria NMDPRA, Abuja also decry how marketers were releasing the product for smuggling out of the country.
According to him, the agency in collaboration with NCS is working together to deal with those involved in smuggling of the product
