The Nigeria Customs Service has seized 14,375 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) valued at about N14.4 million amidst hike in the pump price of petrol nationwide.

 

Operation Whirlwind, a special task force of the Customs Service, intercepted and seized the smuggled petrol.

 

The smuggled PMS was intercepted in Calabar, Cross River State, and was bound for Cameroon. The Duty Paid Value of the seized PMS stands at N14,375,000.

 

Deputy comptroller Lucky Aliyu, disclosed this in a statement. He stated that the latest operation revealed an unprecedented volume of questionable cross border PMS smuggling ring.

 

He added that in the last three weeks, the unit cracked down on 235 jerry-cans of 25 litres each and 40 drums (200litres each) of premium motor spirit, amounting to a total of volume of 14,375 litres.

 

The total duty paid value (DPV) of the seized petroleum products is put at N14,375,000 million which otherwise would have been lost to the federal government.

 

“My men hunted down 14,375 litres Kegs of 25 litres of PMS through sustained surveillance and strategic interdictions across identified flashpoints along Ikang, Bakasi, Ikom and Ikot Idareka routes.

 

“Let me state clearly, petroleum smuggling is not a victimless crime. It undermines the nation’s economy, deprives government of critical revenue, distorts the domestic supply chain and creates artificial scarcity that brings hardship to ordinary Nigerians.”

 

“Smuggling also empowers criminal networks that threaten national security and economic stability,” he said.

 

He further explained that in line with the provisions of the law and in keeping with the principle of transparency, accountability, due process, the seized 14,375 litres of the PMS were disposed of through

public auctions.