By Samaila Bayo, Birnin kebbi
The Operation Whirlwind of the Nigeria Customs Service on Thursday said it has intercepted a tanker truck conveying 45,000 litres of premium motor spirit (PMS) meant for Katsina state in kebbi.
It also seized a total of 864 Jerry-cans of PMS, each containing 25 litres with a
duty paid value estimated at twenty-one million, six hundred thousand Naira. (₦21,600,000).
While speaking during the handing over of the seized tanker truck to officials of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) at the NCS Kebbi Command on Thursday, the Kebbi/Sokoto/Zamfara coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Ntongha Edet who represented the National coordinator, Abubakar Lucky Aliyu said the petroleum products were intercepted at different smuggling flashpoints at Tsamiya, Jega, Kamba, Zaria Kala-Kala, Maje, Dakingari and Tuger Waterside areas of Bagudo in kebbi State.
He added that the tanker was intercepted along Jega road while diverting the PMS that was originally meant for Katsina distribution, as indicated in the NMDPRA daily truck manifest to kebbi State.
"Its presence along Jega road clearly indicates a case of illegal diversion of petroleum products, an act that undermines the nation’s economic stability and government regulatory framework", he said.
While handing over the seized tanker truck over to the officials of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for further regulatory action, he said the
duty paid value of the seized petroleum products is estimated at twenty-one million, six hundred thousand Naira only (₦21,600,000).
With the seizures, he said the relentless efforts of the operation whirlwind in combating smuggling of premium motor spirit (PMS) and protecting Nigeria’s economic interests is yielding significant results.
