The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has handed over five tankers carrying suspected diverted diesel to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, for further investigation.
The Public Relations Officer of Operation Whirlwind, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Hussaini Abdullahi, made this known in a statement on Friday in Lagos.
He said the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Deputy Comptroller Abubakar Aliyu, disclosed that the trucks were intercepted after credible intelligence.
According to him, the trucks, with plate numbers BBR 634 XA, BRK 828 MF, YLA 243 XU, KTN 278 XZ and MUS 134 BX, were later kept at Tasha Joli, opposite the 33 Military Barracks in Maiduguri.
Aliyu said initial checks on the Automotive Gas Oil, also known as diesel, showed possible irregularities and violations of regulations, which led to the handover to NMDPRA for further probe and action, adding that the handover was done on October 23 on the instruction of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi.
According to him, the interception shows that Customs is serious about stopping illegal movement, diversion and smuggling of petroleum products through intelligence-led operations and working with other agencies.
The Operation Whirlwind Coordinator said Customs is stepping up efforts to track and break networks involved in fuel diversion and smuggling across the country.
"Operation Whirlwind remains steadfast in its commitment to proactive, intelligence-led operations and decisive enforcement," he said.
Aliyu assured Nigerians that enforcement will be carried out professionally and within the law.
He thanked the Comptroller-General, Customs management, the Office of the National Security Adviser, NMDPRA and personnel of Operation Whirlwind for their support, adding that the outcome of the investigation will determine the next steps.
Customs intercepts five diverted diesel tankers in Borno, hands them over to NMDPRA