Customs Strikes Hard: Operation Whirlwind Intercepts 39,425 Litres of Smuggled Petrol Worth ₦63.4 Million

In a strategic operation that cements the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) as a bulwark against economic sabotage, Operation Whirlwind has intercepted a staggering 39425 litres of smuggled petrol within the Lagos-Ogun border axis, dealing a decisive blow to the transborder fuel black market. The operation, which also led to the seizure of eight vehicles, underscores the federal government’s renewed crackdown on petroleum smuggling.

The intercepted consignment, equivalent to 1,577 jerrycans of 25 litres each, was confirmed to be en route to Benin Republic, a common destination for illegally diverted fuel subsidized by Nigerian taxpayers. The seized petrol, valued at ₦39.4 million, combined with the ₦24 million worth of vehicles, totals an economic loss to smugglers of ₦63.4 million.

At a press conference on Friday at the Federal Operations Unit in Ikeja, Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, represented by the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Assistant Comptroller-General Hussein Ejibunu, Adeniyi   hailed the operation as “a milestone in Customs’ relentless pursuit of border integrity and economic protection.”

“There is no safe haven for smugglers,” Ejibunu declared. “Every litre smuggled is a litre stolen from Nigeria’s economic recovery.”

National Security, National Interest

The operation, spearheaded by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and conducted in partnership with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Office of the Attorney General, is part of a broader border security initiative aimed at dismantling criminal petroleum syndicates.

The fuel was seized from flashpoint towns including Laro, Imeko, Badagry, Owode, and Ajilete, known corridors for illicit petroleum movement. Adeniyi noted that the seizure marks the second major operation in as many weeks, following a similar interception in Yola where over 46,000 litres were confiscated.

“This success is not coincidental. It is the product of deep intelligence, inter-agency collaboration, and the unyielding courage of our officers,” said Comptroller Charles Orbih, Zonal Coordinator for Zone ‘A’.

Orbih emphasized the broader implications of petrol smuggling, stating, “Beyond revenue loss, it threatens market stability, weakens energy security, and compromises national policy gains.”

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Public Auction, Legal Sanctions

In a people-first move aimed at cushioning fuel scarcity, the Customs Service directed that the seized petrol be auctioned to Nigerians at ₦10,000 per jerrycan, a significant discount from open market prices.

Meanwhile, legal action is underway. Four suspects are currently undergoing trial, with the Attorney General’s office citing life imprisonment or asset forfeiture as penalties under relevant petroleum trafficking laws.

“This is no longer business as usual,” said Mrs. Abidemi Aluko, speaking on behalf of the Attorney General. “We will not just seize — we will prosecute, and we will convict.”

Operation Without Gunfire

In an era of rising insecurity, one standout fact from the operation is this: not a single shot was fired. The Customs Service confirmed that since Operation Whirlwind’s launch in 2025, no firearms have been discharged, a testament to the discipline and professionalism of the operatives.

“This is an intelligence-driven, rules-based operation,” said Patrick Musa, NMDPRA’s Lagos Zonal Officer. “It sets a new bar for security operations in the region.”

The National Coordinator ‘Operation Whirlwind’ Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs Hussein Ejibunu, Zonal Coordinator Zone’A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Charles Orbih, the representative of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, Mrs Abidemi Aluko,the representative of the National Security Adviser, Lagos Zonal office, (NMDPRA), and Mr Patrick Musa, during the briefing of operation Whirlwind held in Lagos on Friday

A Broader War Against Smuggling

Friday’s announcement sends a clear message to fuel smugglers: the borders are no longer porous. From improved drone surveillance to inter-agency cooperation, the federal government appears determined to plug the leaks that have long plagued Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.

In his closing remarks, ACG Kola Oladeji credited the CGC for fostering a “strategic culture of excellence” within the service. “Every jerrycan stopped is a step toward economic renewal,” he said.

As Operation Whirlwind gains momentum, Nigerians can begin to see a path forward—where fuel reaches pumps, not ports; and the nation’s borders, once seen as gateways for crime, now stand as fortresses of integrity.