Customs Thwarts Fuel Smuggling Attempt, Seizes 108,775 Litres of PMS on Adamawa Waterway
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded one of its largest anti-smuggling breakthroughs in Adamawa State with the interception of over 108,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) being ferried through the River Benue into the Republic of Cameroon.
The operation, executed in the early hours of Thursday, November 6, 2025, was coordinated by the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) Kolapo Oladeji, following credible intelligence on illicit fuel movement along Nigeria’s eastern waterway.
Acting on surveillance reports, a special tactical team took covert positions near the Ribadu Loading Bay, a notorious hub for cross-border fuel smuggling. As the suspected smugglers began transferring PMS into a wooden vessel, Customs operatives swiftly advanced, issuing commands to halt the operation.
ACG Oladeji said the officers acted decisively despite the difficult river terrain and low visibility, prioritising the seizure of the contraband and preventing the vessel from escaping across the international route into Cameroon.
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A subsequent sweep of the area, supported by the North-Eastern Marine Command, led to the discovery of a second boat fully loaded with petrol-filled drums and jerrycans. Both vessels were piloted to Jimeta waterside in Yola, where their contents were offloaded into trucks and moved to a secure Customs facility for examination and documentation.
A 100 per cent inspection revealed a staggering haul comprising 485 drums of 220 litres each and 83 jerrycans of 25 litres each, amounting to 108,775 litres of PMS.
Due to the highly flammable nature of the product, the National Coordinator recommended the immediate conduct of a public auction in line with Customs’ operational guidelines to ensure safe disposal.
ACG Oladeji described the operation as a strong demonstration of the Service’s renewed commitment to suppressing cross-border smuggling of petroleum products, safeguarding Nigeria’s economic interests and enforcing government regulations on fuel movement in border regions.
He added that smuggling PMS across Nigeria’s northern and eastern waterways has continued to pose a significant threat to national energy security, as the product is often transported in bulk to neighbouring countries for profiteering.
By PRNigeria
