By Ekpenyong Emmanuel
In a major breakthrough, officials of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have intercepted a large quantity of smuggled petrol worth N110 million in the Lagos waterways. The seizure was made by operatives of Operation Whirlwind Zone A, a special task force set up to combat smuggling in the South West region.
According to the Zonal Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind Zone A, Kehinde Ejibunu, the smuggled petrol was stored in 61 plastic sacks and seven plastic Jerricans, concealed in a large canoe. The canoe was intercepted on the eve of the New Year, December 31, 2024, while attempting to smuggle the petrol into Benin Republic.
Ejibunu revealed that the smugglers had adopted a new tactic of using sacks to smuggle the petrol, a method that was previously used but had not been seen in recent times. He stated that the operatives had been monitoring the waterways and had received intelligence about the smuggling operation.
The seized petrol, which totals 10,970 litres, was evacuated from the canoe with the assistance of the Nigeria Military from Badagry Barrack. Ejibunu praised the success of the operation, which was carried out without any casualties, despite an attempt by the smugglers to resist.
The Nigeria Customs Service has directed that the seized petrol be auctioned, due to its perishable nature. The seizure is a significant blow to the smuggling syndicate operating in the Lagos waterways and a major achievement for the NCS in its efforts to combat smuggling and protect the nation’s economy.
The operation is a testament to the effectiveness of the NCS’s strategies and the collaboration between the service and other security agencies in combating smuggling and other criminal activities. The NCS has vowed to continue its efforts to protect the nation’s borders and prevent the smuggling of contraband goods, including petrol.
