Nigeria Customs fuel interception stops 108,775 litres of PMS from being smuggled into Cameroon in a major Adamawa operation

Nigeria Customs fuel interception efforts reached a significant milestone as operatives halted the smuggling of 108,775 litres of Premium Motor Spirit through the River Benue into Cameroon.

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The operation is being regarded by officials as one of the largest anti-fuel smuggling breakthroughs recorded in Adamawa State in recent months, marking a decisive move in the Service’s intensified crackdown.

The Nigeria Customs Service disclosed the development on Saturday through a statement shared on X. According to the statement, the interception occurred in the early hours of Thursday, 6 November 2025, and was executed under the leadership of the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, ACG Kolapo Oladeji.

The operation was driven by a special tactical team that had mounted covert surveillance near Ribadu Loading Bay, a location well known for illegal fuel movements into Cameroon.

Oladeji revealed that as the smugglers began transferring the petrol onto a waiting vessel, officers advanced and issued firm orders for them to stop.

He explained that the terrain presented visibility challenges, but the operatives focused on preventing the contraband from being moved across the international waterway. Their swift action ensured the vessel did not escape.

A further sweep of the surrounding area, supported by the North-Eastern Marine Command, uncovered a second wooden boat already loaded with drums and jerrycans of petrol.

Both boats were piloted to the Jimeta waterside in Yola, where the contents were emptied into trucks and moved to a secured Customs facility for documentation.

A full examination revealed 485 drums of 220 litres each and 83 jerrycans of 25 litres each, bringing the total to 108,775 litres of PMS.

Given the highly volatile nature of petrol, Oladeji recommended the immediate conduct of a public auction in line with established guidelines.

He emphasised that the operation underscores the Service’s renewed commitment to combating cross-border fuel smuggling, protecting Nigeria’s economic interests, and enforcing vital regulations governing petroleum movement.

He added that smuggling PMS across northern and eastern waterways remains a major threat to national energy security, with smugglers often transporting fuel in bulk to neighbouring countries for profit.

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The latest interception comes just weeks after the Adamawa and Taraba Commands of the NCS seized a range of contraband, including petroleum products, donkey skins, Tramadol, and foreign soaps worth over N112.5 million, further reinforcing the Service’s vigilant posture.