By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Nigeria Customs Service has intensified its campaign against the illicit movement of petroleum products. Its latest operation led to the interception of more than 108,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) on the River Benue, close to the border with Cameroon.
Officials described the seizure as one of the most significant breakthroughs recorded in Adamawa State in recent months.
The early-morning raid took place on Thursday, 6 November 2025, under the supervision of the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, ACG Kolapo Oladeji.
According to him, the breakthrough followed days of intelligence gathering that focused on Ribadu Loading Bay, a route long associated with smuggling activities.
ACG Oladeji explained that a tactical team maintained a hidden position near the location until the suspected smugglers began loading the product onto a vessel.
“As the smugglers began transferring the products onto the vessel, the Customs team advanced and issued commands for them to halt,” the National Coordinator said.
He noted that officers had to act cautiously because of the difficult terrain.
He added, “Given the terrain and visibility challenges, operatives prioritised securing the contraband and preventing the boat from escaping across the international waterway.
”A wider search of the area, supported by the North-Eastern Marine Command, led to another discovery. A second wooden boat was found packed with drums and jerrycans filled with petrol.”
The two vessels were subsequently taken to the Jimeta waterside in Yola. Their contents were transferred into trucks and moved to a secured Customs location for proper documentation.
A full examination later confirmed the scale of the seizure: 485 drums of 220 litres each and 83 jerrycans of 25 litres each, which amounted to 108,775 litres of PMS.
“Given the volatile nature of the product, prompt conduct of a public auction in accordance with established guidelines was recommended to NCS, Headquarters,” he highlighted.
The National Coordinator stressed that the operation shows the Service’s strengthened determination to disrupt cross-border fuel smuggling, safeguard the economy, and enforce rules that control fuel movement in border communities.
He added that the illegal ferrying of PMS through Nigeria’s northern and eastern waterways continues to pose serious threats to national energy security because smugglers transport the product in huge volumes into neighbouring countries for profit.